Artificial intelligence has become routine in many workplaces, but the adjustment is far from smooth. A recent survey highlights a complicated picture. People appreciate the speed and support AI offers, yet many quietly fear losing their abilities or connections at work.
Skills slipping under the surface
One recurring concern is skill erosion. Many employees say they depend on AI to finish tasks that once required full concentration. About one in five already notice a drop in their own capability when they try to work without automation. Another quarter believe the technology sharpens their thinking, but roughly the same number feel it dulls it.
The data also shows mixed attitudes toward colleagues. Some rely heavily on AI systems, while others view that dependence with skepticism. Roughly four in ten people use AI both at work and at home, which suggests that the reliance is spreading into daily habits.
Confidence in identifying AI content is also proving unreliable. Although most respondents thought they could tell a real image from a synthetic one, only a third managed to do so when tested. That shortfall signals how quickly digital literacy is being tested in a changing media landscape.
Mixed feelings about the future of automation
The study, conducted by Howdy[1], paints a picture of divided confidence in AI’s staying power. More than one third of workers think the industry around it might be overinflated, with some warning of economic risks if the trend collapses. Others question whether their employers have a clear plan for using the technology responsibly.
Job stability remains a frequent topic of concern. Around one in five respondents worry about being replaced by automated systems. At the same time, many are trying to keep pace. About a third have started new training programs, and some plan to continue formal education to strengthen their skills.
Even those who feel safe in their current roles report tension. Several participants linked AI use to lower work quality, citing mistakes and inconsistent results from over-automation.
When AI replaces conversation
Beyond productivity, the report touches on a quieter trend: people substituting digital tools for social interaction. Nearly one in five workers said they hide their AI use from coworkers. A smaller group even personalize their tools with names or human-like traits.
Interaction patterns are changing as well. Close to one fifth now speak with AI programs more often than they do with colleagues, and many prefer those exchanges. Remote employees appear most affected. Nearly thirty percent of them report that AI communication has become more frequent than contact with teammates, and one quarter say they find those interactions easier.
A small share of respondents also describe forming emotional ties with digital assistants, from friendship to affection. While those numbers remain low, they suggest that AI’s presence is quietly reshaping social behavior at work.
Younger employees adapt fastest but worry most
Generation Z, the first to grow up around AI, stands out in the data. Many of them use automation fluently but admit to side effects. Around three in ten believe that constant use of AI tools is making them less capable. Some have already taken second jobs after automation displaced earlier work. Others are enrolling in higher education to strengthen their prospects.
Nearly half of this group say they are becoming more dependent on AI in everyday decisions. A significant number also use it to handle anxiety or stress, while a smaller portion describe friendly or emotional relationships with the technology.
Finding balance in an automated world
The survey results show that AI is neither feared nor fully trusted. Workers are learning to live with it while questioning its limits. Employers, experts suggest, should treat the issue as one of balance rather than efficiency. That means training staff to understand how the technology works, encouraging continuous learning, and maintaining space for human discussion and teamwork.
Artificial intelligence can enhance performance, but it cannot replace the insight and empathy that come from human experience. Workplaces that remember this distinction may adapt more smoothly to the next phase of automation.
About the study
The survey was conducted in August 2025 among 1,007 full-time employees across the United States who use AI in their work. Participants ranged in age from 19 to 77, with an average of 41. Half identified as male, nearly half as female, and one percent as nonbinary or undisclosed. Work arrangements included 25 percent remote, 36 percent in person, and 39 percent hybrid.
Read next: 2025 Blogging Report: AI Use Explodes While Average Article Length Slides[2]
References
- ^ Howdy (www.howdy.com)
- ^ 2025 Blogging Report: AI Use Explodes While Average Article Length Slides (www.digitalinformationworld.com)