AI is changing the workplace, but not everyone feels the same about it. Some employees say it saves time and boosts productivity, while others feel overwhelmed or anxious. Our survey of 1,013 employees found that AI fatigue is rising, especially among Gen Z and remote workers. Many also feel pressured to adopt AI, even when they don't fully understand it.
- 16% of employees are experiencing AI fatigue.
- Gen Z employees are the most likely to be experiencing AI fatigue (22%).
- Remote employees are the most likely to be experiencing AI fatigue (18%).
- 36% of employees feel pressured to adopt AI even if they don't fully understand it.
- Over 1 in 3 employees (36%) are worried about being replaced by AI.
- Nearly 1 in 4 employees (23%) experience AI-related anxiety.
- Employees are over 10x more likely to feel more valued in human-led workplaces than in AI-driven workplaces.
As AI tools become more embedded in daily workflows, employees are experiencing both benefits and challenges. While some report AI fatigue, others say these tools improve efficiency and productivity. Our research explores which employees feel overwhelmed by AI and which find it most beneficial.
Overall, 16% of employees reported experiencing AI fatigue, with notable differences across demographics. Gen Z employees were the most likely to feel overwhelmed by AI (22%), as were by remote employees (18%). In contrast, those earning over $150,000 annually were the least likely to report AI fatigue (9%).
Industry trends also emerged, with healthcare and e-commerce workers reporting the highest levels of AI fatigue (23%). Technology professionals followed at 20%, while manufacturing (18%) and government employees (17%) also showed significant fatigue levels. Company size played a role as well. Employees at mid-sized companies (50-200 employees) were the most likely to experience AI fatigue (18%).
Despite concerns about AI fatigue, most employees acknowledge AI's advantages. A majority said AI saves them time (62%), makes their job easier (58%), and boosts productivity (50%). Gen Z employees were the most likely to say AI saves them time (69%) and simplifies their work (59%), while millennials led in reporting increased productivity (52%).
Hybrid employees were the most likely to see AI as beneficial, with 64% saying it saves time, 60% saying it eases their workload, and 53% reporting increased productivity. However, not all employees shared these views. Millennials were the most likely to feel AI adds to their workload (17%), slows them down (11%), or makes their job harder (7%).
Adapting to AI also requires a time investment. On average, employees have spent 3.3 hours per week learning or troubleshooting AI tools, with tech employees spending the most at 4.3 hours per week. But AI's efficiency gains often outweigh the learning curve. Employees reported saving an average of 5.1 hours per week using AI tools, and 1 in 5 employees saved 10 or more hours per week.
Still, the rapid expansion of AI brings new challenges. More than 1 in 3 employees (36%) felt pressured to adopt AI even when they didn't fully understand it, with Gen Z being the most likely to feel this way (40%). Additionally, 34% of employees had AI-related responsibilities added to their role outside their original job description, with millennials (36%) and hybrid employees (40%) being the most impacted.
Some employees also struggle to keep pace with AI implementation: 19% felt AI was being introduced too quickly for them to adapt, with millennials leading (20%). Remote employees (65%) were the most likely to disagree with this, suggesting that work flexibility may ease the transition.
As AI adoption grows, employees are divided on its impact. Some see it as a tool for efficiency, while others fear job loss. Concerns about AI's role in decision-making and its effect on mental well-being vary by generation, work setting, and industry.
Over 1 in 3 employees (36%) were worried about being replaced by AI. Gen Z employees were the most worried (43%), followed by millennials (39%), while Gen X employees were the least concerned (28%). As for work environments, remote employees were the most anxious about AI-driven job displacement (44%), while on-site employees were the least worried (31%).
Beyond job security, some employees feel AI is making their work less personal as 28% reported that AI depersonalizes their job. Gen Z employees were the most likely to feel this way (33%), followed by millennials (30%). Gen X employees were the least likely to report this concern (19%). Remote employees were also among the most affected, with 29% saying AI diminishes the human aspect of their roles.
Nearly 1 in 4 employees (23%) reported feeling AI anxiety, including 26% of remote workers. Millennials were the most likely to feel anxious about AI (25%), followed by Gen Z (24%) and Gen X (19%). Among industries, entertainment and media employees were the most likely to report AI anxiety (32%).
Skepticism toward AI decision-making remains high. Almost 1 in 4 employees (24%) said they wouldn't trust AI to make any workplace decisions. Gen Z was the least likely to trust AI for decision-making (25%), and remote employees were even more distrustful (27%). Despite this hesitancy, some employees were open to AI-driven processes—1 in 10 said they would trust AI to make hiring decisions.
As AI adoption continues, employees have mixed reactions regarding its effectiveness, ethical use, and decision-making. While some see improvements in workplace accuracy, concerns about AI-driven surveillance, responsible implementation, and bias remain widespread.
AI's impact on workplace accuracy has been inconsistent. Nearly 29% of employees reported a decrease in workplace mistakes due to AI automation, while 22% saw an increase and 49% noticed no change. On-site employees were the most likely to report fewer mistakes (33%), while remote employees were the most likely to see mistakes increase (24%).
Privacy concerns were also prominent. Over 1 in 2 employees (51%) worried about AI invading their privacy through workplace surveillance tools, and 49% felt their employer was not implementing AI responsibly. Millennials and Gen Z employees were the most likely to share this concern (50%), alongside those working in micro-sized companies (60%) with less than 10 employees. Industry-wise, finance employees were the most skeptical, with 62% believing AI was not being used responsibly.
Human leadership remains an essential factor in workplace satisfaction. Employees were over 10 times more likely to feel valued in human-led workplaces than in AI-driven ones. Trust in AI's decision-making was also low—58% of employees did not trust AI to make unbiased decisions, with Gen X being the most skeptical (60%).
AI is here to stay, but its impact hasn't been the same for everyone. Some employees feel more productive and efficient, while others are overwhelmed by rapid changes, job security fears, and privacy concerns. As companies integrate AI into daily operations, the real challenge is making sure it works for employees—not against them.
Methodology
We surveyed 1,013 employees who use AI at work about AI fatigue, its impact on workflow, and concerns about AI decision-making. Respondents included 18% Gen Z, 54% millennials, 23% Gen X, and 5% baby boomers. Their work environments were as follows: 33% remote, 33% hybrid, and 34% on-site.
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