How does your team really feel about using AI at work?

Are they excited? Nervous? Maybe a bit of both?

A new study shows just how widespread AI has become in the workplace, and how mixed people’s feelings still are.

Four out of five workers now use some kind of AI tool in their daily role. More than half use AI assistants regularly to save time. But that does not mean everyone is comfortable with it.

Some employees worry they will be seen as lazy or untrustworthy for using AI. Others feel judged or second-guessed by coworkers when they do.

It is a strange spot to be in. People trust AI to help them, but do not always trust how others will react to their using it.

The truth is, AI exists to support people. It is important to see AI as a partner, a tool that helps us focus on the things we do best, like strategy, creativity, and problem-solving.

But for that to happen, people need to feel confident using it. That is where many businesses are falling behind.

Only one in three workers has had any formal AI training. Most are figuring it out as they go, which can lead to uncertainty, mistakes, and mistrust.

Managers are generally more confident with AI (around 70 percent), but that confidence drops among junior staff, with only about a third feeling the same way.

So, what is the solution?

Like so much else, it starts with your workplace culture. Business owners and managers need to create an environment where experimenting with AI is encouraged, not judged.

Show your team that using AI is not cheating, it is smart working.

Give people opportunities to learn, whether through formal training, internal workshops, or casual “show and tell” sessions where team members share how they use AI to make their jobs easier.

AI confidence does not happen overnight. But when people feel supported and trusted, they are much more likely to embrace it. That is when you will see better efficiency, more creativity, and a team that is ready for whatever comes next in the future of work.