Third of people hide their use of workplace AI from employers

A new poll from Access Group claims that 35 percent of workers admit to using workplace AI covertly to do tasks they were supposed to do themselves and didn’t tell their boss about, posing questions about the security of AI in the workplace. This figure jumps to 55 percent among 18-29 year-olds, with over a quarter (26 percent) confessing they’ve done this ‘many times’. In contrast, only 14 percent of over-60s admit to having used AI to gain an advantage.

The research, outlined in the AI at Work report [registration], also suggests that generative AI is rapidly transforming the workplace. Where AI tools are available, 59 percent of UK workers report reduced stress in the workplace.

The survey, involving 1,134 employees across 12 industries, claims that AI may hold the key to reversing a 15-year rise in workplace-related anxiety. Since 2008, the number of UK workers reporting stress, depression or anxiety has more than doubled, reaching 875,000 in 2023.

The research highlights that workers in tech (74 percent) and finance (68 percent) are leading the adoption of AI tools, with those in health, social care, and the public sector (45 percent) quickly catching up. In fact, 82 percent of respondents across all industries said AI helps them produce better work, a testament to the technology’s transformative potential.

Confidence in using AI also varies widely. According to the survey, men are twice as likely as women to rate their confidence with AI as 10 out of 10 (4 percent vs. 2 percent, respectively). Conversely, 3.3 percent of women gave themselves the lowest possible confidence score of 1, slightly higher than the 2.4 percent of men who did the same.

Generational differences are even more pronounced. 11 percent of Gen-Z (18-24 year-olds) rated themselves highly confident in using AI tools, nearly double the 6 percent of Gen-X (45-59 year-olds). Among older employees, confidence declines further, with just 2 percent of over-60s scoring themselves highly.

Despite these confidence gaps, AI’s ability to improve workplace outcomes is broadly recognised. With 82 percent of employees acknowledging AI’s impact on the quality of their work, it’s clear that the technology is being embraced as a tool for productivity and innovation. Yet, the evolving role of AI raises questions about its integration, particularly across different industries, genders and age groups.

The survey also highlighted how AI is helping employees work more efficiently, with over half (55 percent) of respondents saying AI saves them time every week by automating repetitive tasks like data analysis and customer support. And 42 percent believe it saves their organisation money too. Data security remains a critical concern despite these benefits, with nearly half of respondents citing it as a top issue.