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Many workers fear losing jobs, being judged by supervisors
Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are now part of many workplaces, as they have a proven track record in speeding up tasks, aiding data analyses and automating routine work.
Yet a surprising number of people avoid using them daily. Research from surveys and industry reports shows several common reasons behind this hesitation.
A 2024 employer study in Malaysia found that one in three workers have never used AI tools at work and another 10% have only tried them once.
This suggests a large segment of the workforce still avoids these tools altogether. Though younger workers such as Gen Z and millennials adopt AI more often, the older generations lag behind with 42% of Gen Xers and 73% of Baby Boomers reporting no AI use in their jobs.
Fear of job loss, career impact
One of the strongest reasons people avoid AI tools is fear that the technology could replace their jobs. A 2025 global survey of adults in Malaysia, part of a larger Ipsos AI Monitor study, found that 63% of adults believe AI will replace their current job in the next five years, even as 54% think AI could improve their work. This mixed feeling increases anxiety and makes some workers wary of adopting the tools daily.
Similarly, in a separate Microsoft/LinkedIn survey across 31 countries, about 52% of workers were reluctant to admit using AI for complex tasks because they feared it might harm their career development. Additionally, there are worries that supervisors could view AI use as a sign they do not need as much skill or human contribution.
Lack of training or clear guidance
Even when organisations introduce AI tools, workers may avoid them because they were not trained properly. A survey of workplaces found that many employees use AI tools without any formal guidance or company policies, leading to confusion and risk. In one report, only about one third of workers said their organisations had clear policies for using generative AI tools, leaving the majority without direction.
Without training or rules, employees fear making mistakes, exposing sensitive data or violating policies. Another global study showed that many employees have used AI in ways that go against workplace rules, as nearly half admitted to uploading sensitive information to public AI tools and a majority had used AI without knowing if it was allowed.
Trust, privacy, ethical concerns
Trust issues also hold people back. In Malaysia, a Workday report found that while many employees are comfortable using AI as a support tool, only about 23% are okay with an AI agent managing them. Workers cited ethical risks such as bias, discrimination and misuse of AI as key concerns. There is also fear that AI could reduce critical thinking or diminish quality interactions in the workplace.
Privacy and data security worries contribute too. Without clear corporate guidelines, employees fear that using AI with company data might expose confidential information, which can lead to sanctions, breaches or compliance issues.
Beyond technical or economic reasons, social attitudes matter. Some workers avoid AI because they think peers will judge them for it or because they fear being seen as over-reliant on machines in place of human skill. A survey in the UK found that many workers deliberately avoid discussing their AI use with managers or colleagues out of concern it might reflect poorly on them.
As such, people still avoid AI tools in daily work for clear, verified reasons, from fear of job loss, lack of training, unclear policies, privacy and ethical concerns, to social stigma.
Organisations that want higher adoption rates need to address these issues directly with training, transparent guidelines and open dialogue so workers feel comfortable using AI safely and confidently.
READ MORE:
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