How do your team really feel about using AI at work?
Are they enthusiastic?
Cautious?
Perhaps a mix of both?
Recent research shows just how embedded AI has become in everyday working life – and how divided opinions still are.
Around four in five employees now use some form of AI in their role, and more than half rely on AI tools regularly to save time. Yet widespread use does not mean universal confidence.
Many people worry they might be judged for using AI, seen as cutting corners or relying too heavily on technology. Others feel uneasy about how colleagues might react when they use it openly.
It creates an odd contradiction. People trust AI to help them work more effectively, but they are not always sure they can trust the workplace culture around its use.
In reality, AI is meant to support people, not replace them. It works best when treated as a partner – a way to handle routine tasks so people can focus on higher-value work like strategy, creativity, and problem-solving.
But for that to happen, teams need to feel comfortable using AI. And this is where many organisations are struggling.
Only about one in three workers have received any formal guidance on AI. Most are working things out themselves, which can lead to uncertainty, mistakes, and hesitation.
Managers tend to feel more confident – around 70% – but confidence drops significantly among junior staff, where only around a third feel similarly assured.
So what needs to change?
It starts with culture. Leaders need to make it clear that experimenting with AI is encouraged, not frowned upon.
Using AI should be framed as smart working, not shortcuts.
Businesses can support this by offering structured training, internal workshops, or informal sessions where employees share practical examples of how AI helps them in their roles.
Building AI confidence takes time. But when people feel supported rather than scrutinised, they are far more likely to embrace new tools. That’s when organisations start to see real benefits – improved efficiency, stronger creativity, and a workforce better prepared for the future of work.
