Third of workers coy about revealing their use of AI, says survey

It is the work shortcut that dare not speak its name. A third of people do not tell their bosses about their use of AI tools amid fears their ability will be questioned if they do.

- Robert Booth

Research for the Guardian has revealed that only 13% of UK adults openly discuss their use of AI with senior staff at work, and close to half think of it as a tool to help people who are not very good at their jobs.

Amid predictions that many workers face a fight for their jobs with AI, polling by Ipsos found that among more than 1,500 British workers aged 16 to 75, 33% said they did not discuss their use of AI to help them at work with their bosses.

They were less coy with people at the same level, but a quarter of people believe "co-workers will question my ability to perform my role if I share how I use AI".

The Guardian's survey also uncovered deep worries about the advance of AI, with more than half of adults believing it threatens the social structure. The number of people believing it has a positive effect is outweighed by those who think it does not. It also found 63% of people do not believe AI is a good substitute for human interaction, while 17% think it is.