Research from Acceleration Community of Companies (ACC) suggests nearly three-quarters (74 per cent) of workers are more concerned about becoming too dependent on artificial intelligence than they are concerned about falling behind in its adoption. At the same time, more than one-third (36 per cent) say using AI has felt like cheating, pointing to a growing disconnect between AI’s promise of productivity and its psychological impact on the people using it.
The findings come from The AI Identity Report, a new study examining the psychological relationship between people and AI. While much of the public conversation has focused on productivity, automation and job displacement, the report finds AI is not just changing how people work but how they think about themselves – reshaping confidence, creativity and professional identity.
For the past two years, organisations have measured AI success by adoption rates and productivity gains. ACC’s findings suggest the real test is whether AI helps people become more capable, rather than becoming more dependent. As AI becomes embedded in everyday work, businesses will need to ensure it strengthens human judgment, creativity and confidence – not just making everyone more efficient.
The findings are based on a survey of 1,000 full-time employed US adults conducted by DKC Analytics using Pollfish, and explores how people are navigating AI’s rapid integration into everyday life. Rather than revealing widespread resistance to the technology, the findings point to a more nuanced reality: people are embracing AI while simultaneously questioning whether they are undermining their own abilities and confidence in the process.
The report also reveals a striking productivity paradox. Although respondents estimate AI saves them an average of 15 hours each week, only 31 per cent say it makes them significantly more productive. Meanwhile, 66 per cent worry AI is eroding their creativity and an equal proportion fear it is diminishing core skills such as writing and critical thinking, suggesting many people see AI as both an essential tool and a potential threat to the uniquely human capabilities they value most.
“The conversation around AI has focused almost entirely on whether it will replace jobs,” said Monica Chun, President of ACC. “Our work suggests people are increasingly worried that relying on AI could erode the abilities they value most, fueling anxiety about becoming too dependent on a technology they’re increasingly expected to use. The onus is now on businesses to help people use AI without losing confidence in their own capabilities.”
Beyond the workplace, the findings suggest AI is rapidly becoming a trusted gateway to information and purchasing decisions. More than half (51 per cent) of respondents say AI is now their first stop for information, while 43 per cent have already made purchasing decisions based on AI recommendations, signaling a shift in how people discover, evaluate and act on information.
Check out the full report at https://www.accelerationcc.com/intelligence/ai-identity.
