Key Takeaways
- 12% of employed adults in the US use artificial intelligence (AI) daily in their job, while roughly one-quarter use it at least a few times a week.
- AI adoption is higher among those working in technology-related fields, with about 6 in 10 technology workers saying they use AI frequently.
- The use of AI is also common in finance, professional services, and education, with many employees using AI tools to synthesize documents, generate ideas, and learn new things.
- However, not all economists agree on the impact of AI on productivity and employment prospects, with some warning that certain workers may be more vulnerable to job disruption.
- Despite increasing AI use, few employees believe that new technology, automation, robots, or AI will eliminate their job within the next five years.
Introduction to AI in the Workplace
American workers have adopted artificial intelligence into their work lives at a remarkable pace over the past few years, according to a new poll. A Gallup Workforce survey conducted this fall found that 12% of employed adults say they use AI daily in their job, while roughly one-quarter say they use it at least a few times a week. This represents a significant increase from 2023, when Gallup began asking the question, and points to the impact of the widespread commercial boom that ChatGPT sparked for generative AI tools. As Gene Walinski, a 70-year-old Home Depot store associate, noted, "I think my job would suffer if I couldn’t [use AI] because there would be a lot of shrugged shoulders and ‘I don’t know’ and customers don’t want to hear that."
AI Adoption in Different Industries
AI adoption remains higher among those working in technology-related fields, with about 6 in 10 technology workers saying they use AI frequently, and about 3 in 10 doing so daily. In finance, 28-year-old investment banker Andrea Tanzi uses AI tools every day to synthesize documents and data sets that would otherwise take him several hours to review. Tanzi also makes use of the bank’s internal AI chatbot, Erica, to help with administrative tasks. As he noted, AI has become an essential tool in his daily work, allowing him to be more efficient and productive. In addition, majorities of those working in professional services, at colleges or universities, or in K-12 education, say they use AI at least a few times a year.
The Benefits and Challenges of AI
Joyce Hatzidakis, a 60-year-old high school art teacher, started experimenting with AI chatbots to help "clean up" her communications with parents. She noted, "I can scribble out a note and not worry about what I say and then tell it what tone I want… And then, when I reread it, if it’s not quite right, I can have it edited again. I’m definitely getting less parent complaints." However, not all economists agree on the impact of AI on productivity and employment prospects. Sam Manning, a fellow at the Centre for the Governance of AI, noted that while AI may boost productivity, it may also disrupt certain jobs, particularly those that involve repetitive or routine tasks. As Manning said, "Most of the workers that are most highly exposed to AI, who are most likely to have it disrupt their workflows, for good or for bad, have these characteristics that make them pretty adaptable."
The Impact of AI on Employment
Despite increasing AI use, few employees believe that new technology, automation, robots, or AI will eliminate their job within the next five years. According to a separate Gallup Workforce survey from 2025, half of employees said it was "not at all likely" that AI would eliminate their job, although this has decreased from about 6 in 10 in 2023. However, some workers may be more vulnerable to job disruption, particularly those in administrative and clerical work. As Manning noted, "If their skills are automated, they have less transferable skills to other jobs and they have a lower savings, if any savings… An income shock could be much more harmful or difficult to manage." The Rev. Michael Bingham, pastor of the Faith Community Methodist Church in Jacksonville, Florida, is not worried about losing his job to AI, saying, "You don’t want a machine, you want a human being, to hold your hand if you’re dying… And you want to know that your loved one was able to hold the hand of a loving human being who cared for them."
Conclusion
In conclusion, the adoption of AI in the workplace is becoming increasingly common, with many employees using AI tools to improve their productivity and efficiency. While there are concerns about the impact of AI on employment prospects, many employees are optimistic about the benefits of AI and do not believe that it will eliminate their job. As Walinski noted, "The human interface part is really what a store like mine works on… It’s all about the people." As the use of AI continues to grow, it will be important to monitor its impact on the workforce and to ensure that workers have the skills and training they need to adapt to an increasingly automated economy.
How Americans are using AI at work, according to a new Gallup poll
