A third of professionals feel embarrassed by their lack of AI knowledge, according to new LinkedIn research that tracked workplace conversations over a 12-month period. The study reveals that AI’s rapid pace is overwhelming workers, with 41% reporting it’s negatively impacting their well-being and more than half saying that learning AI feels like a second job.
What you should know: Workers are struggling to keep up with AI developments despite recognizing its importance for career advancement.
- 33% of professionals admitted feeling embarrassed about how little they understand AI.
- 35% feel nervous about discussing AI at work due to their knowledge gaps.
- Younger professionals are twice as likely as older colleagues to lie about their AI skills.
The big picture: AI’s breakneck evolution is creating workplace anxiety rather than the promised productivity gains, with professionals caught between the need to upskill and the overwhelming pace of change.
- LinkedIn monitored conversations containing words like “overwhelm,” “burn out,” and “navigating change” from July 2024 through June 2025.
- The research found AI is “fueling insecurity among professionals at work” as they struggle to demonstrate competence in an unfamiliar technology.
Why this matters: Studies show that “AI capital”—experience with artificial intelligence—directly impacts job prospects and earning potential.
- University graduates with AI experience received more job interview invitations than those without it, according to Oxford Economics.
- Graduates with AI capital were also offered higher wages than their peers without such experience.
The learning gap: Despite AI’s importance, professionals find the learning curve steep and time-consuming.
- More than half of professionals say learning about AI feels like another job in itself.
- 41% report that AI’s current pace is impacting their well-being.
- The pressure to upskill is driving workplace stress rather than empowerment.
Available solutions: Major tech companies are offering accessible AI training options for overwhelmed professionals.
- Google, Microsoft, IBM, and Amazon Web Services provide affordable and sometimes free AI training courses.
- These programs cover IT skills, prompt engineering for AI models, and coding introductions through platforms like GitHub.
- The courses aim to bridge the knowledge gap that’s creating workplace anxiety.
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