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Superagency in the workplace: Empowering people to unlock AI's full potential at work

AI Adoption Stumbles: The Worker Confidence Barrier

Despite unprecedented investment and technological progress, the AI transformation in American workplaces is hitting a formidable—and often underestimated—obstacle: worker confidence. While billions have fueled the rollout of advanced tools and automation, the engine of innovation is sputtering, not for lack of hardware or algorithms, but because many employees hesitate to embrace and trust AI at work.

The Confidence Gap: More than Skill

It's easy to assume that training will solve everything. Yet research shows that even when employees possess technical skills, their willingness to adopt AI is dictated by self-efficacy—the belief in their own ability to use these tools effectively. The legacy of digital change in other sectors is clear: in education, for instance, teachers with access to powerful tech often avoid or only superficially use such tools if they lack confidence.

In the corporate world, this manifests as employees unsure how AI applies to their roles, questioning their competence, or fearing that reliance on AI could make them appear less skilled—or even less ethical—than their peers. Layered atop these doubts is a deep-rooted anxiety: the specter of being replaced by technology rather than empowered by it.

The Data: High Awareness, Moderate Usage, Hidden Hesitancy

• Adoption vs. Familiarity: 94% of surveyed workers say they are familiar with AI, and 72% of companies are actively using it.

• Reluctance to Rely: 52% of workers admit reluctance to disclose when they use AI for important tasks.

• Efficiency, But Not Flawless Trust: While 90% of AI users report time savings and over 60% expect generative AI to boost productivity, more than half say formal training is the key to unlocking greater value.

• Shadow IT Emerges: 78% of AI users bring their own tools to work, often bypassing official channels—highlighting discomfort with disclosure, lack of institutional trust, or unclear policies.

• Trust Tension: 71% of employees trust their employer to use AI ethically—more than universities (67%), tech giants (61%), or startups (51%).

Improper Use and Governance Gaps

When formal systems aren't clear—or when workers lack confidence—they take matters into their own hands. Half of U.S. workers reported using AI tools at work without knowing if it was allowed. Even more striking: 44% knowingly use AI in ways that skirt or ignore company policy, and 58% say they rely on AI to complete tasks without properly evaluating the outcomes. Over half admit to presenting AI-generated content as their own, underscoring the risks when governance lags behind adoption.

The Leadership Dilemma: Trust and Transparency

Data reveals a striking paradox: as AI adoption accelerates (with use in organizations jumping from 55% in 2023 to 78% in 2024), worker trust in AI's responsible deployment remains shaky. Employees seek authenticity and openness from leadership. When transparency or engagement is lacking, they're less likely to trust AI initiatives—further slowing integration.

The Training Opportunity: Fueling Confidence, Not Just Compliance

Workers overwhelmingly cite formal training (48%) as the best way to increase AI usage. But training must go beyond technical how-tos:

• Focus on real-world scenarios and demystify mistakes.

• Address job security concerns head-on.

• Encourage ethical AI use and foster a culture of experimentation, not judgment.

Analysis: Why Confidence Is the New Productivity Multiplier

AI's promise—higher productivity, better decision-making, and breakthrough insights—remains tantalizingly close. But the lesson from 2025's adoption data is clear: cutting-edge technology without worker confidence is like building a bullet train with no conductor.

A few key takeaways:

• Investment is not a proxy for impact: Billions spent on AI tools won't yield ROI if worker hesitancy persists.

• Policy alone can't drive change: Shadow adoption shows that employees will use AI regardless of official stances—sometimes unsafely—when trust and clarity are missing.

• Mental health and job satisfaction benefit from AI: 55% of workers say AI improves their mental health and 63% say it increases job enjoyment—if, and only if, they feel empowered to use it well.

The Path Forward: Confidence as Core Infrastructure

For organizations striving to unlock AI's full value, the challenge is now cultural as much as technical. Building worker confidence—through robust training, candid conversation about risks (and opportunities), and policies that invite responsible experimentation—may be the single most important investment left to make. As history has shown, technology advances fastest when the human engine driving it feels not just capable, but confident.

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