A new report from SnapLogic highlights how AI has become pervasive in the workplace, quantifying both usage patterns and shifting attitudes among managers. According to the findings, a whopping 81% of employees now use AI tools in some aspect of their roles, and 57% regularly collaborate with AI agents to automate or speed up workflows.
Interestingly, the study shows that managers—and many senior leaders—actually trust AI agents more than junior workers for certain tasks. Over half (52%) believe they’re more likely to be managing AI agents than human staff members in the future, and 61% think managing AI agents would be easier than managing people. Nearly half (46%) of all respondents even anticipate a future where they themselves might be managed by AI.
Despite this trust, worker anxieties are still prevalent:
- 43% of employees worry they’ll be perceived as lazy or untrustworthy when relying on AI.
- 24% feel judged or second-guessed in the workplace when utilizing AI help.
A large gap in AI training was also revealed:
- Only 36% of respondents have received formal AI training, with most learning through trial and error.
- Managers are far more confident in their AI abilities (70%) compared to non-managers (33%), underscoring a persistent skills gap among junior staff.
SnapLogic’s Director of Project Marketing, Dominic Wellington, emphasized that the future is not about replacing people, but leveraging AI as a partner to enhance what makes humans unique: strategy, insight, and innovation.
The survey concludes with a strong call for organizations to carefully plan their AI deployments, ensuring trust and value are realized for all levels of the workforce.
