American workers are worried about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace, particularly a reduction in pay, according to a recent survey.
Checkr, an employment screening service, surveyed 3,000 active US employees across multiple generations, including Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials, and Gen Zers. The survey was conducted on 27-28 April using the Pollfish survey platform.
According to the study’s findings, 79% of US workers are concerned that AI will cause a loss of pay in their positions. This sentiment is shared by 82% of millennials, 76% of Gen Z, and a comparable proportion of workers from previous generations. In addition, 78% of respondents are unsure whether the introduction of AI would lead to a reduction in national salaries.
In addition, 74% of workers believe that the use of AI in the workplace would result in job losses, with a similar proportion expecting layoffs due to AI within the next six months to two years.
While there are fears that AI will displace workers, many employees expect the technology to reduce their responsibilities. More than half of respondents said they would be willing to take a pay cut if AI helped them transition to a four-day workweek. In addition, 86% of respondents were willing to accept a pay cut in exchange for a reduced workload with AI assistance in completing tasks. Millennials, Gen Xers, and Baby Boomers were willing to accept a 10% pay cut, but Gen Z respondents were willing to accept a 15% pay cut.
The survey results reveal a wide range of feelings among American workers about the integration of AI in the workplace. While fears of reduced earnings and potential job losses persist, there is also recognition that AI has the potential to improve work-life balance and reduce working hours, leading many to accept compensation trade-offs. These findings illustrate the changing dynamics of AI and the workforce as positive and negative expectations coexist.
