Q4 2025 AI Perception and Threat in the Workplace Survey

Is AI really coming for our jobs?

Artificial intelligence is transforming the workplace faster than most expected. Our recent survey of U.S. workers reveals that while many expect AI to replace a large share of their responsibilities, they remain surprisingly optimistic about what comes next.

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Key Findings

1. Workers think AI could replace nearly half of their job duties
   • On average, workers believe AI could replace 45% of their responsibilities.
   • Among managers, that number jumps to 56%, showing leaders realize their roles aren’t immune.
   • Despite this, a majority remain optimistic about AI’s role in their future, indicating a disconnect between perceived risk and confidence.
2. More than one in four fear AI will threaten their job
   • 26% of employees are highly concerned that AI could endanger their role within a year.
   • 34% of Gen Z fear AI will disrupt their jobs in the next 3 years.
   • While most employees are not overly concerned, the threat perception for many is undeniably real.
3. AI is driving career mobility
   • 78% of employees have switched jobs or would consider switching for better AI exposure and training.
   • Gen Z leads this trend, with 22% already changing jobs for AI-related opportunities.
   • AI is now a career decision factor comparable to compensation and culture.
4. AI adoption is already widespread and growing
   • 79% of employees report AI has at least some impact on their role today.
   • Three in four have seen their use of AI increase in the past six months.

A Deeper Dive Into Survey Questions

1. 79% of employees report that AI has some impact or a constant impact on their current role

Gen Z has the highest regular use of AI (42%), while millennials report the highest impact on their role (26%).

2. 76% of employees have seen at least some increase in their use of AI over the past 6 months

Gen X has seen the most significant increase in the high end, with 54% reporting a moderate (33%) or significant (21%) increase. The results show there isn’t a significant disparity between generations.

3. Managers and executives have a positive outlook on AI over the next year, while staff do not

Leadership expresses far greater confidence in AI’s potential, while staff respondents remain cautious. Many non-managers report uncertainty about how AI will affect their work, suggesting differing levels of optimism across organizational tiers.

4. Respondents believe AI could replace 45% of their responsibilities

This confidence could reflect an evolved understanding of AI, in which workers expect evolution rather than extinction. Their focus could be on task-level disruption (automation of busywork) rather than wholesale job loss. But it’s very possible this enthusiasm could be misguided. If their own predictions are accurate, it will be difficult for organizations to justify high salaries or even entire positions if a person’s responsibilities are significantly reduced.

Managers and executives believe AI could replace more of their responsibilities

5. More than one out of four employees worry AI will threaten their jobs in the next 6-12 months

Despite the belief in the replacement of responsibilities, participants have very low (24%) or extremely low (27%) concern that AI will threaten their jobs in the near future. Overall, there is no significant difference between generations, except that Gen Z is the most neutral at 39%.

6. 34% of Gen Z employees are highly concerned that AI poses a threat to their jobs in a 3-year window

Threats related to AI increase over the 3-year time window, with 50% expressing very low (27%) or neutral (23%) concern. Gen X is the most confident, with 24% having extremely low concern.

When looking further ahead, concern about AI’s impact on job security rises notably, especially among younger workers. Gen Z employees express the highest levels of worry about AI posing a threat over the next 3 years, a sharp contrast with the relatively low concern across all generations in the shorter 6–12 month timeframe.

7. The top uses of AI at work

There’s a very diverse range of uses for AI overall. Gen Z diverges most from the average in conducting research (28%, +10%) and generating images and videos (19%, +9%).

8. 62% of employees have considered changing careers due to the impact of AI

Gen X is the most resistant to change, with 50% not considering it much (22%) or at all (28%).

9. 78% of employees would consider switching jobs or have already done so for better training with AI

Gen Z leads the way with 22% saying they have already switched jobs for this reason. 

AI already impacts most roles and may start to drive career paths. Most are optimistic about the impact of AI on their roles, but they may worry that failing to upskill could leave them behind. Companies that embrace AI training are likely to attract talent; those that don’t could watch skilled workers leave in search of AI-forward environments.

Methodology

The AI Perception and Threat in the Workplace Survey was conducted by 4 Corner Resources in October 2025 among 500 full-time U.S. employees aged 18 to 60 with annual household incomes of $50,000 or more. Participants represented all U.S. regions (51% male, 49% female). The online survey captured insights on AI usage, perceived job impact, and career attitudes across industries.