Since the advent of ChatGPT, millions of Americans have experimented with, used, and implemented generative artificial intelligence (AI) into their workstreams. Generative and large-language model (LLM) AI is revolutionizing many work sectors, But how do workers feel about it?
To find out how American workers use AI, we surveyed 1,000 full-time employees nationwide to see whether, how, why, and when they use it — and whether they think it’s a good thing.
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How are American Workers Using AI in the Workplace in 2024?
Workers are embracing AI in record numbers: 92% of survey respondents say they trust it, 93% say they like to use it at work, and more than 1 in 10 say they wouldn’t be able to do their jobs without AI. Times have changed so quickly that more than 3 in 5 workers use AI at least a few times a week — a far cry from just a few years ago. In fact, 1 in 10 survey respondents report using AI all of the time.
One of the main reasons why workers say they use AI is to boost productivity. Most of those surveyed say it’s working: 86% say their productivity increased by using AI, which saves them an average of six hours a week. Not only that, but AI is beneficial to a company’s bottom line, as 1 in 4 say they save their employers money by using AI. The workers estimate yearly savings averaging $15,466.
Top tasks workers undertake using AI include writing and editing, data analysis, administrative work, planning, and marketing. When surveyed on which tools their companies use, the top AI apps include:
- ChatGPT
- Grammarly
- Gemini/Bard
- DALL-E
- Quillbot
However, not everyone brags about using AI: 16% use AI without their job knowing it. Among them, more than 1 in 5 say they are able to skip work, and nearly 1 in 10 say they can hold two full-time jobs because they use AI.
Top AI Risks and Benefits for Americans
More than half (60%) of American workers view AI as a net positive for themselves. This may be because 62% report using AI at work. Broken down by generation, baby boomers use AI the most at work, followed by Gen Z, millennials, and Gen X.
It’s no surprise that many workers feel AI is here to stay in the workplace: 1 in 5 American workers surveyed are even considering a career switch into the AI industry. For those skilled in using AI, 12% believe they are entitled to a pay raise.
AI does cause some to worry, however: 16% say they are afraid of AI taking their jobs, and 14% are concerned AI will kill their industry in the next five years. Perhaps due to this, 58% say they want to see legislation regulating the use of AI in the U.S. The top concern? Data security.
AI may make jobs easier, but some respondents harbor concerns that this is not entirely a good thing. Nearly half (46%) think AI is making workers lazier, and 37% say that using AI feels like “cheating.”
How Managers and Job Seekers Use and View AI
How do managers across the country view AI? Just more than half encourage their employees to use it, 1 in 3 explicitly want their employees to use it, and 1 in 10 discourage it altogether.
Despite the rise of this technology, not all companies have AI policies in place. More than 1 in 3 (37%) workers said their workplace doesn’t have a policy, and 29% didn’t know whether their employers had one. Only about 3% said that AI was prohibited in the workplace.
The hiring process also provides ample opportunity to integrate AI, as 1 in 5 workers say their jobs use it when looking for new talent. For the nearly 1 in 4 employed workers searching for a new role, this could pose a risk or an opportunity. AI is a hot topic, and job seekers are taking advantage of this, with 1 in 4 listing AI as a skill, a similar amount seeking a job in the AI industry, and 21% are trying to leave a career path they think AI will kill.
Nearly 3 in 5 job seekers use AI to strengthen their applications. The top ways they’re using AI in job applications include using AI to optimize resumés, write their cover letters, match them to suitable jobs, and role-play interviews to hone their skills. Early results are promising, as nearly 1 in 10 workers say they have gotten a job thanks to AI.
No matter whether you’re a whiz at ChatGPT or you’re using AI to help build websites, code, or create complex program architectures, AI is clearly not leaving the workplace anytime soon. As more workers learn the ropes, this technology may become a mainstay rather than a passing trend.
Methodology
In April 2024, we surveyed 1,008 full-time employees nationwide. Respondents were 50% men, 49% women, and 1% nonbinary. Participants’ ages ranged from 20 to 77, with an average age of 71.
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