American workers have rapidly integrated artificial intelligence (AI) into their professional routines, as revealed in a recent Gallup Workforce survey of over 22,000 U.S. employees. According to the findings, approximately 12% of employed adults utilize AI daily in their jobs. This signifies a notable increase from just 21% who reported using AI at least occasionally in 2023.
The survey highlights that about a quarter of respondents employ AI frequently, defined as at least a few times a week, while nearly half engage with AI tools at least a few times annually. This uptick reflects the significant impact of generative AI tools like ChatGPT, which have transformed workplace tasks such as composing emails, coding, summarizing documents, and addressing consumer inquiries.
One employee embracing this technology is Gene Walinski, a 70-year-old store associate at Home Depot in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. He relies on an AI assistant on his personal phone approximately every hour to address customer inquiries regarding products in the electrical department. “I think my job would suffer if I couldn’t because there would be a lot of shrugged shoulders and ‘I don’t know’ and customers don’t want to hear that,” Walinski shared.
AI usage is particularly pronounced in technology and finance sectors. Nearly 60% of technology workers report frequent AI use, with about 30% using it daily. In the finance realm, 28-year-old investment banker Andrea Tanzi, employed at Bank of America in New York, relies on AI tools to synthesize documents and manage extensive data sets significantly faster than traditional methods.
In education, a similar trend is evident. Joyce Hatzidakis, a 60-year-old high school art teacher in California, has turned to AI chatbots to enhance communication with parents. She expressed that using these tools has allowed her to refine her messages, resulting in fewer complaints from parents.
While the adoption of AI in workplaces is being promoted by the tech industry and governmental bodies, experts remain divided on its implications for productivity and employment. Research conducted by Sam Manning, a fellow at the Centre for the Governance of AI, suggests that many current AI users are adaptable, often possessing higher education and wider skillsets. However, Manning points to approximately 6.1 million workers, mainly in administrative roles who may be more vulnerable to disruptions caused by AI due to their limited adaptability and lower savings.
Interestingly, a separate survey indicates that workers are not overly concerned about AI replacing their jobs. While a growing number of employees expect new technologies could affect their positions, nearly half believe job elimination due to AI is “not at all likely.” The Rev. Michael Bingham, a pastor in Jacksonville, Florida, encapsulated this sentiment when he stated his preference for the human touch over machine assistance in his pastoral duties.
Conversely, AI adoption appears less prevalent in service-oriented fields such as retail and healthcare. While Home Depot did not require Walinski to use AI, he sees its value and effectiveness in customer interaction as pivotal to his role, emphasizing the importance of human engagement in retail environments.
