YouGov survey reveals mistrust among workers of agentic AI in the workplace

The first significant survey examining worker trust in agentic AI reveals notable skepticism among employees regarding AI’s capabilities and reliability in the workplace.

Key findings: YouGov’s survey for Pegasystems (NASDAQ: PEGA) polled over 2,100 working professionals in the US and UK who use digital devices for their jobs, with 58% already utilizing AI agents.

• 33% expressed concerns about AI-produced work quality
• 32% cited AI’s lack of human intuition and emotional intelligence
• 30% showed distrust in AI-generated response accuracy
• 47% believed AI cannot match human intuition and emotional intelligence
• 40% felt uncomfortable submitting AI-generated work
• 34% worried that AI’s output quality falls short of human-produced work

Expert perspectives: Technology leaders and AI specialists emphasize the importance of measured implementation and proper oversight of AI systems.

• Attorney Jonathan Feniak advocates for careful adoption and rigorous auditing of AI systems
• AI ethicist Elle Ferrell-Kingsley warns against using free AI tools with sensitive company data
• Ryan Niddel, CEO of MIT45, stresses the necessity of human oversight in AI implementation
• Shannon Blood of InFlux Technologies recommends testing AI at tactical levels before broader deployment

Implementation guidelines: Business leaders should establish clear frameworks and policies for AI adoption.

• Companies need comprehensive AI policies addressing copyright infringement and potential risks
• Organizations should maintain ongoing communication and training processes
• Human oversight remains essential for interpreting AI-generated insights
• Business leaders should carefully weigh pros and cons before implementation

Risk management considerations: Several key factors require attention when implementing AI in workplace environments.

• Regular auditing and monitoring of AI systems is crucial
• Organizations should avoid over-reliance on algorithms without understanding their underlying data
• Companies must balance automation benefits with potential impacts on employee stress levels
• Clear limitations should be set on AI tool usage and authority

Looking ahead: Organizations face a delicate balancing act between leveraging AI’s potential benefits and addressing legitimate worker concerns about its limitations and reliability. Success will likely depend on thoughtful implementation strategies that acknowledge both human expertise and AI capabilities while maintaining appropriate oversight and control mechanisms.