Artificial intelligence (AI) may be transforming workplace productivity, but a growing number of employees fear the technology is making them less intelligent in the process, according to a new survey.
In fact, the global survey from GoTo conducted in partnership with research firm Workplace Intelligence, found that nearly half of employees believe they rely too heavily on AI tools at work, while 39% say overdependence on the technology is weakening their skills and making them “less intelligent.” The findings come from The Pulse of Work in 2026: Opportunity, Risk, and Responsibility in an AI-Driven Workplace, a study surveying 2,500 global employees and IT leaders on workplace AI adoption, productivity, misuse and workforce sentiment.
The report highlights what researchers describe as a growing “AI paradox”. While employees are saving significant amounts of time using generative AI tools, many also worry the technology is eroding human judgment, reducing critical thinking and creating unhealthy dependence in the workplace.
The findings add to growing international concern around AI overreliance, workforce readiness and the long-term cognitive impact of generative AI adoption as organisations rapidly integrate tools such as ChatGPT and AI copilots into everyday workflows.
WHY IT MATTERS: PRODUCTIVITY GAINS COLLIDE WITH WORKFORCE CAPABILITY
Experts increasingly warn that businesses may be entering a new phase of AI adoption where productivity gains are beginning to collide with workforce capability risks. While AI tools are helping employees automate repetitive work, summarise information and accelerate decision-making, researchers say excessive cognitive outsourcing could weaken critical thinking, independent problem-solving and professional confidence over time.
The implications could become particularly significant for younger workers entering AI-driven workplaces without fully developing foundational communication, analytical and decision-making skills first. Other studies have also highlighted growing concern around AI “workslop,” weak workplace AI governance, employee burnout and declining workforce readiness.
In fact, one recent report found that workers are increasingly spending hours correcting low-quality AI-generated work, creating hidden workloads, frustration and operational inefficiencies inside organisations, leading to burnout risks.
YOUNGER WORKERS REPORT HIGHEST AI DEPENDENCE
The study found concerns were especially pronounced among younger workers. Nearly half of Gen Z employees (46%) said relying too much on AI is making them less intelligent, according to the report.
Researchers say the findings raise broader concerns about how rapidly increasing AI adoption could affect long-term workforce capability, professional development and confidence among younger generations entering increasingly AI-dependent workplaces. The survey also found that:
- 30% of employees say they feel unable to function without AI.
- 29% believe AI is already doing their job better than they can.
- 28% say they trust AI more than their own judgment.
- 41% believe AI overreliance could damage their long-term career prospects.
- Among Gen Z workers, that figure rises to 50%.
The findings echo broader workforce concerns around automation and professional insecurity. Another recent piece of research found that many younger workers fear AI could limit entry-level opportunities and reduce long-term career development pathways as businesses increasingly automate routine tasks.
INCREASING PRESSURE ON WORKERS TO USE AI
One of the key drivers behind AI overreliance appears to be rising workplace pressure to adopt AI tools. According to the report, 60% of employees say they feel pressured to use AI to improve productivity. Researchers warn that many organisations are scaling AI adoption faster than they are implementing training, governance and oversight frameworks, increasing the risk of misuse, overdependence and operational mistakes.
“The opportunity in front of us with AI is enormous,” said Rich Veldran, CEO of GoTo. “Employees are spending an estimated 2.6 hours every day on tasks that AI could handle, and in the US alone, that translates to more than $2.9 trillion in potential efficiency gains annually.”
However, Veldran also warned that many employees still lack practical understanding of how AI should be used responsibly in their roles. The report found that:
- 80% of employees say they are not using AI to its full potential.
- 69% say they are unfamiliar with how AI can be practically applied in their role.
- 80% of employees believe workers are not being properly trained to use AI tools responsibly.
These findings align with separate international research covered by Fair Play Talks suggesting many organisations remain unprepared for large-scale AI transformation despite accelerating investment.
EMPLOYEES DEVELOPING DEPENDENCE ON AI
Experts believe the findings highlight a growing emotional and psychological tension emerging in workplaces as employees increasingly rely on AI to think, write and make decisions faster.
“What stands out in these findings is the emotional tension behind AI adoption at work,” noted Pepi Sappal, Founder of Fair Play Talks. “People are clearly benefiting from AI in terms of productivity, but at the same time many workers seem to be questioning themselves more, whether they still trust their own judgment, whether they’re thinking critically enough and whether they’re becoming too dependent on technology.”
Sappal believes younger employees may feel this pressure most intensely because many are entering workplaces where using AI is quickly becoming normalised, expected and increasingly tied to performance. “If your first instinct at work becomes asking AI instead of thinking something through yourself, that inevitably changes how confidence, creativity and learning develop over time,” explained Sappal.
She added that employers need to think more carefully about the kind of workplace culture they are creating as AI adoption accelerates. “The conversation can’t just be about productivity anymore,” Sappal said. “Employers also need to think about human capability, confidence and how employees continue developing real communication, judgment and problem-solving skills in increasingly AI-driven workplaces, especially with younger generations entering the workforce.”
MAJOR WORKPLACE PROBLEMS: AI MISUSE & WORKSLOP
The report also identified a sharp rise in what researchers describe as AI misuse and “workslop” – low-quality AI-generated work that creates additional review and correction burdens for employees. According to the study:
- 70% of employees admit using AI for sensitive or high-stakes tasks.
- 41% used AI for legal or compliance-related work.
- 37% used AI for tasks requiring emotional intelligence.
- 31% used AI for safety-related work.
- 29% used AI for strategic decision-making.
- 28% used AI for ethical or personnel decisions.
The report also found that 43% of workers knowingly submitted AI-generated content they suspected may contain errors, inaccuracies or fabricated information. Meanwhile 77% said AI-generated work takes longer to review than human-produced work. And 66% said reviewing AI “workslop” creates additional workload for employees, as highlighted in other recent studies.
Researchers warned that unchecked AI work is increasingly affecting workplace quality, operational efficiency and decision-making. Nearly one in four IT leaders said AI-related mistakes have already negatively affected customers, clients or company finances.
STRUGGLES TO MEASURE AI ROI DESPITE HIGH INVESTMENT
The findings arrive as businesses face mounting pressure to prove measurable AI return on investment. In fact, a recent study found that nearly seven in 10 companies may reduce AI spending if implementations fail to deliver clear business value and productivity gains.
The study suggests many organisations are investing aggressively in AI technologies without fully understanding how to govern or evaluate them. Although 62% of IT leaders said more than 20% of their budget is now allocated to AI-related technologies or projects, 43% admitted their company is not effectively measuring AI return on investment.
Researchers say this disconnect could create long-term operational and governance risks as organisations integrate AI deeper into critical business functions without clear accountability frameworks.
“AI adoption has outpaced organisational readiness,” said Dan Rasmus, Founder and Principal analyst at Serious Insights. “The next phase of AI value will not come from simply putting more tools in people’s hands. It will come from designing the management system around AI: practical policies, role-based enablement, human judgment, knowledge-sharing practices, and measurement that connect AI use to meaningful outcomes.”
GROWING IMPORTANCE OF HUMAN SKILLS
Despite rapid AI adoption, researchers say the study reinforces the growing importance of uniquely human capabilities in the workplace. Employees identified several skills expected to become increasingly valuable in AI-driven workplaces, including:
- Creative thinking
- Emotional intelligence
- Leadership
- Human judgment
- Decision-making
- Bias detection
- AI oversight and verification
Separate reports also suggest AI may increase demand for communication and collaboration skills rather than eliminate them. In fact, one global study found that eight in 10 employers believe AI is increasing the importance of English-language communication and interpersonal skills as workers increasingly interact with AI systems, prompts and digital collaboration platforms.
“Responsible AI use is about having the right tools and supporting the people who use them,” said Dan Schawbel, Managing Partner at Workplace Intelligence. “Our research highlights the importance of equipping employees with the skills, policies and guidance they need to work alongside AI effectively.”
GUIDANCE FOR EMPLOYERS: HOW TO SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE AI USE
Experts say the findings are a warning sign for organisations rapidly integrating AI into daily workflows without sufficient governance, workforce training or human oversight. The study suggests businesses can better support responsible AI usage by focusing on five key areas:
1. Strengthen AI policies, governance and training
The report found that only 44% of IT leaders said their company currently has a formal AI policy in place. Even where policies exist, many employees still feel unsupported. Around 80% of employees believe workers are not being properly trained to use AI responsibly, while many organisations still lack clear guidance around acceptable AI use, data privacy, bias mitigation, human oversight and accountability for AI-generated work. Experts say businesses may need stronger governance frameworks alongside practical AI literacy training to reduce misuse and overdependence.
2. Protect critical thinking and human judgment
Researchers warn that excessive AI dependence could gradually weaken independent thinking, problem-solving and professional confidence if employees become overly reliant on automation. The study found many workers are already using AI for high-risk tasks involving legal work, strategic decisions, compliance and emotionally sensitive interactions. Experts say organisations may need stronger human review systems to ensure employees continue applying critical thinking and judgment rather than over trusting AI-generated outputs.
3. Invest in human skills alongside AI adoption
As AI automates more administrative and repetitive work, researchers say human capabilities are becoming increasingly valuable. Employees identified skills such as communication, creativity, emotional intelligence, leadership and analytical thinking as critical for future AI-driven workplaces. Experts warn businesses focusing only on automation and productivity gains may unintentionally weaken long-term workforce capability if employees stop developing foundational professional skills themselves.
4. Focus on practical AI tools that improve work
Employees said the most valuable AI tools are those that reduce repetitive workloads and free up time for higher-value work. Workers reported strongest interest in AI support for task management, communication, administrative tasks, content creation and customer service. Meanwhile, IT leaders prioritised tools focused on cybersecurity, troubleshooting, operational analytics and compliance. Researchers say organisations should focus less on adopting AI for its own sake and more on whether tools genuinely improve productivity, employee experience and operational performance.
5. Measure AI ROI beyond productivity
Although 62% of IT leaders said more than 20% of their budget is now allocated to AI technologies or projects, 43% admitted their organisation is not effectively measuring AI return on investment. Experts say businesses increasingly need better systems to evaluate productivity gains, workforce wellbeing, operational impact, employee capability, customer outcomes and long-term business value. Researchers warn companies focusing only on short-term efficiency gains may overlook hidden costs linked to correction workloads, burnout, governance failures and declining workforce confidence.
BALANCING HUMAN AND AI SKILLS
As AI adoption accelerates globally, organisations are increasingly confronting a difficult balancing act – how to unlock productivity gains without weakening the critical thinking, judgment and human capabilities workplaces still depend on most.
The report suggests the companies most likely to succeed in the AI era may not be those that automate the fastest, but those that best balance technological efficiency with human creativity, oversight and decision-making.
Click here to download the full report.
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