US workers fear AI dependence more than job losses

ACC has published a survey on how US workers view artificial intelligence in the workplace. It found that fear of becoming dependent on AI is more common than fear of job loss.

The AI Identity Report surveyed 1,000 full-time employed adults in the US aged 18 to 65. It points to unease over how AI affects confidence, creativity and day-to-day work habits. DKC Analytics conducted the research using the Pollfish survey platform.

Among the headline findings, 74% of respondents said they were more concerned about becoming too dependent on AI than falling behind in adopting it. The report also found that 66% worry AI could diminish their creativity, and the same share fear it could weaken writing skills and critical thinking.

The results suggest a more complicated picture than the standard debate about automation and job replacement. Workers appear to be adopting AI tools while also questioning whether routine reliance on them could weaken skills they see as central to their professional identity.

A separate tension emerged around productivity. Respondents estimated that AI saves them an average of 15 hours a week, yet only 31% said it makes them substantially more productive. Another 37% described it as more of a distraction than a productivity boost.

AI guilt

The survey also found discomfort around using the technology. More than a third of respondents, 36%, said using AI has felt like cheating, while 28% said they had felt guilty because AI made a task feel too easy.

Younger workers were more likely to express that view. According to the study, 40% of Gen Z respondents said using AI feels like cheating.

Some workers also said they conceal their use of the tools. The report found that 22% have hidden their AI tools or workflows from others, and 16% said they had lied about using AI to complete work.

Monica Chun, president of ACC, said the findings point to a shift in anxieties around AI at work.

"The conversation around AI has focused almost entirely on whether it will replace jobs," Chun said.

"Our work suggests people are increasingly worried that relying on AI could erode the abilities they value most, fueling anxiety about becoming too dependent on a technology they're increasingly expected to use. The onus is now on businesses to help people use AI without losing confidence in their own capabilities."

Trusted source

Beyond workplace concerns, the study found that AI is becoming a first point of contact for information and consumer choices. Just over half of respondents, 51%, said AI is now their first stop when they need information.

Trust in AI also appears to exceed trust in some established digital channels. The survey found that 61% trust information from AI more than social media, while 43% said they had already made purchasing decisions based on AI recommendations.

That matters for employers and brands alike because it suggests workers are not treating AI only as an office tool. They are also using it as an intermediary for discovery, evaluation and decision-making outside formal workplace settings.

Patchwork tools

The report indicates that many employees are building their own mix of AI services rather than relying on company systems. Only 28% said they primarily use a company-wide or team AI platform, suggesting most rely on free tools or personal subscriptions.

That could create challenges for employers trying to set standards around accuracy, confidentiality and appropriate use. It also points to a gap between organisational AI policies and how workers are actually incorporating these tools into everyday tasks.

ACC framed the findings around the idea that the main question for companies is no longer simply whether workers are using AI, but how that use affects judgment and self-belief. The results add to a broader debate over whether time saved by AI translates into better work, or whether some gains come with hidden costs for attention and skill retention.

For now, the survey suggests that many workers see AI as both useful and unsettling. Even as they turn to it for information, writing and support, a sizeable share remain uneasy about what repeated dependence might do to the abilities they value most.