Employees are still concealing AI use from their managers

The widespread adoption of artificial intelligence in the workplace is encountering unexpected social and cultural barriers, as employees increasingly hide their AI usage from managers despite continued executive enthusiasm for the technology.

Key findings from new research: Slack’s comprehensive global survey of over 17,000 desk workers reveals a cooling sentiment towards AI adoption and growing social concerns about its workplace use.

• Nearly half (48%) of desk workers feel uncomfortable with managers knowing they use AI for common tasks like messaging, coding, and data analysis
• Employee enthusiasm for AI has declined globally from 47% to 41%, with particularly sharp drops in the US (45% to 36%) and France (53% to 41%)
• Despite 99% of executives planning AI investments this year, employee adoption rates have stagnated, with minimal growth in key markets

Social dynamics and workplace culture: The hesitation to embrace AI openly stems from complex social and professional concerns rather than technical limitations or company policies.

• Workers fear being perceived as lazy or less competent if they admit to using AI tools
• A remarkable 81% of AI users prefer consulting AI for advice rather than reaching out to colleagues or friends
• Younger generations, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, show higher comfort with AI usage but risk diminishing workplace social connections

Training and implementation challenges: A significant gap exists between AI’s promised benefits and actual workplace integration.

• 61% of desk workers have spent less than five hours learning to use AI tools
• Most employees (76%) express urgent desire to upgrade their AI skills
• The lack of proper training and clear usage guidelines continues to hamper effective AI adoption

Workplace expectations versus reality: There’s a growing disconnect between how AI is marketed and how workers perceive its impact on their daily responsibilities.

• Workers hope AI will help them focus on meaningful work but fear it may actually increase their workload
• Only 21% cite restrictive company policies as a barrier to AI use, suggesting social factors play a larger role
• Current AI implementation often fails to address workers’ primary desire for more time for skill-building and learning

Looking ahead – Cultural transformation needed: The path to successful AI integration requires addressing both technical and social aspects of workplace dynamics.

• Organizations must develop clear AI usage guidelines while fostering a culture that normalizes AI assistance
• Investment in “AI microlearning” and structured training programs could help bridge the current skills gap
• Leaders need to actively address employees’ social concerns about AI use rather than focusing solely on technical implementation