Workers are now more likely to say that AI is a net-negative than a net-positive when it comes to finding a job, building wealth or securing quality of life, according to a Jobs for the Future survey.
The sentiment is flipped from just a year ago, when more workers were likely to say that AI did more good than harm across society. In 2024, nearly half of respondents felt somewhat or very optimistic about the impact of AI on workers.
In the more recent survey, just 39% of workers say they feel optimistic about AI, and more workers now say AI does more harm than good. Additionally, just over one-third of workers say employers are providing the training, guidance or opportunities they need to use AI in their jobs, a drop of 10 percentage points compared to a year earlier.
"As it becomes ubiquitous in our working lives, AI still has the potential to help more people access quality jobs, practice new skills, and build sustainable livelihoods," said Ben Pring, vice president of JFF's Center for Artificial Intelligence & the Future of Work, in a statement. "But the new survey shows growing concern about the pace of AI adoption and a clear gap in employer support. Workers want to be part of the transition — and we risk widening gaps if they are not given the tools and voice they need to engage."
Wave Connect recently looked at AI adoption among employees in the 50 largest U.S. metro areas and AI-related skill atrophy, examining where employees face the greatest risk of AI dependency.
"Most companies measure AI success by how much faster work gets done," said George El-Hage, founder and CEO of Wave Connect, in a statement. "Almost none of them are measuring what their employees are quietly losing in the process. Critical thinking and analytical reasoning don't disappear, they atrophy through daily disuse, one shortcut at a time. In the metros leading AI adoption, that's the risk no one is tracking."
The slideshow above highlights the cities where employees rely the most on AI, according to Wave Connect.
Credit: Devrimb/iStockphoto.com
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