Survey Reveals AI Usage in the Workplace
A recent survey has uncovered that about one in five individuals discreetly use AI tools at work, even without formal approval. Surprisingly, many find this practice beneficial.
In a poll involving 1,000 American business owners, marketers, and salespeople, a significant 77% expressed that increased use of AI boosts their confidence in the quality of their work. Meanwhile, 75% believe that utilizing AI can enhance their effectiveness in competing against larger, established companies.
Conducted by Talker Research and commissioned by ActiveCampaign, the survey also found that 82% of AI users in the workplace employ it primarily for marketing tasks. Others reportedly use AI for customer support (31%), operational and human resources management (28%), and product-related functions (25%).
Despite the apparent advantages, 20% of respondents admitted to feeling they need to “sneak” AI into their work since it’s not officially allowed. Approximately 48% use AI daily, while 17% utilize it monthly, and another 9% don’t incorporate it into their official work. It’s a bit of a mixed bag.
Concerns surrounding AI use remain prevalent. One in five respondents worry about the quality of AI-generated output, with 21% particularly anxious about the potential for AI to replace their jobs. There’s also apprehension that users and customers might lose trust in their business, with 19% voicing this concern. Negative feedback from others seems to contribute to these fears, as noted by 57% of respondents who either have their own negative feelings about AI or have heard criticisms from others.
And it’s not just the general public; 20% of respondents acknowledged being their harshest critics, while social media (20%) and client feedback (18%) fueled concerns as well.
“Some companies are still contemplating AI integration, while many others are progressing past preliminary stages to strategic applications,” a spokesperson noted. They emphasized how AI can lead to measurable improvements for customers, allowing businesses to identify the tangible benefits more readily. Often, it all begins with that personal “aha moment” when one experiences AI’s capabilities firsthand.
Interestingly, the survey revealed that using AI for personal matters can ease some of the apprehension surrounding its workplace use. Nine out of ten individuals utilizing AI apply it to both personal and professional tasks. Of those, two-thirds ventured into the AI world through personal use, typically taking around six weeks to become proficient at it.
In the workplace, understanding AI takes about the same time, but the benefits tend to surface rapidly. People reported saving an average of 13 hours weekly with AI applications at work. Notably, those using AI daily cited average time savings of 14 hours, compared to just six hours for those who are less frequent users.
On a monthly basis, these tools helped firms save around $4,739 in operational costs. Daily users, on average, saved $5,038, while those who used AI sparingly saved only about $2,237.
Many respondents highlighted that incorporating AI into their workflows fosters a sense of increased efficiency (39%), boosts confidence in their work quality (29%), and fuels creativity in marketing (37%). They particularly found AI effective in marketing (82%), design and creative tasks (78%), and analytics (75%).
“We’re thrilled about the ability to help our clients optimize their business operations,” noted Amy Kilpatrick, Chief Marketing Officer at ActiveCampaign. She remarked that a majority believe AI excels in marketing functions, managing time-consuming tasks like data analysis and content generation so marketers can concentrate on building genuine connections with their audiences.
Research Method
The Talker survey involved 1,000 American business owners, marketers, and sales representatives. It was commissioned by ActiveCampaign and managed online by Talker Research from May 21st to June 12th, 2025.
