AI is transforming work, so why are 4 in 5 US employees missing out?
Artificial intelligence is transforming industries worldwide. In theory, it promises to boost productivity, streamline tasks, and reshape how we work. Yet in practice, adoption in the US workplace remains modest. A new Pew Research Center survey finds that only 21% of American workers currently use AI in their jobs. That’s up from 16% just a year ago, showing growth, but also highlighting that most workers are still not actively leveraging this technology.The survey also shows a generational and educational divide. Younger workers and those with a bachelor’s degree or more are far more likely to use AI tools at work. For many others, AI is still a distant concept or something they haven’t yet integrated into daily tasks. Awareness is increasing, but the gap between AI’s potential and its practical adoption in workplaces remains wide.
Who is using AI at work ?
According to the Pew Research Center, 21% of US workers say at least some of their job is done with AI. This includes a rise from 14% to 19% in the share of workers who say some of their work involves AI. Those who do all or most of their work with AI remain a tiny 2%, unchanged from 2024.Most American workers, about 65%, still say they don’t use AI much or at all. Awareness is improving, however, the share of workers who haven’t heard or read about AI at work fell from 17% to 12% in the past year.
Education and age drive adoption
The increase in workplace AI usage is largely driven by workers with higher education. Among those with a bachelor’s degree or more, 28% now use AI for at least some of their tasks, up from 20% last year. Workers with some college or less also show growth, from 13% to 16%, though adoption remains lower.Age matters too. Workers under 50 are more likely to use AI tools than older employees. This suggests that familiarity with technology and comfort with digital tools strongly influence adoption.
Non-users see potential
Even among workers who don’t currently use AI, interest is rising. About 36% say at least some of their work could be done with AI, up from 31% in 2024. Meanwhile, 46% of non-AI users believe not much or none of their work could be automated, roughly the same as last year. This indicates both opportunity and skepticism remain high.
AI is growing , but the workplace has a way to go
AI is slowly becoming a part of American workplaces. Its use has grown in the past year, especially among younger and more educated workers. Yet the majority of employees still do not rely on AI in their jobs. Awareness is increasing, and more workers see the potential for automation, but adoption lags behind the technology’s promise. The challenge now is to turn curiosity and awareness into practical, everyday use in offices, factories, and professional roles.
