March 14, 2025 AI in the Workplace: Americans are Divided

Study of employed Americans reveals some workers are concerned about being ‘replaced’ by AI, while others see its usage as a positive step.

by Alicia Keene

Two-thirds of working Americans (72%) are concerned about AI’s potential to threaten their job, according to a new study.

The new report by RS, a global provider of product and service solutions for industrial customers, found that most American workers (60%) used AI as part of their job in the last year – and millions more expect to use the technology in the future.  

The study saw RS survey 1,000 workers from different industries and found differing views on AI in the workplace.

Some feel nervous about AI’s potential impact

Workers highlighted both positive and negative aspects of AI  and it’s use by the workforce, with the majority of workers concerned at how AI could impact their job security or ”ongoing employability.”

A sense of nervousness toward the technology was further reinforced by the nearly half (41%) of Americans who cited ”loss of jobs for humans” as being the main potential drawback to the use of AI in the workplace. 

Younger workers were the most likely to see AI as a potential threat to their career prospects; just 15% of 25-34-year-olds said they felt AI was ”no threat” to their job—the lowest figure of any age group studied.  

More than a third of all workers also said they view the potential ”loss of skills in humans” (36%) as a major potential disadvantage of this technology. 

A third (33%) also saw ‘privacy and security risks’ as a drawback to using AI at work, citing the potential for ‘unforeseen risks’ from AI flaws.

In fact, just a quarter of working Americans (25%) see the use of AI as part of their day-to-day job as a ”good thing,” suggesting 75% are unsure or already perceive it negatively.  

Some workers see opportunities in AI

While some workers have concerns about AI and its role in the workplace, others see how it could bring about a positive change.

Of those surveyed, around a third (30%) admitted to seeing AI as ”an opportunity for businesses and employees to become more efficient.” Additionally, a quarter (25%) think that AI could improve the workplace long-term by taking on roles that humans find boring or repetitive. 

Employees in the IT sector (43%) are the most likely to see AI as an opportunity to make businesses more efficient, and also the most likely to see it as a ‘good thing’ (40%) 

Those working in the Manufacturing sector were also amongst the most likely to see AI as an opportunity (36%).

In fact, AI-driven surveillance systems have recently been highlighted as having the potential to improve workplace safety.

AI usage in the workplace is increasing rapidly

Whether perceived as a positive or a negative, AI’s usage in the workplace certainly skyrocketed last year.

Of the 60% of Americans who used AI at work last year, 28% used it for the first time in 2024, while 32% had already used AI as part of their job for “some time.” Around one in five (18%) reported that AI is already significantly impacting their industry. 

San Francisco emerged as an AI hub in the U.S. in usage terms, with three-quarters of workers (75%) stating they’re already using AI in their role. A large majority of workers from Miami (71%), San Diego (69%) and Phoenix (67%) also reported they are using AI in some form as part of their day-to-day job. 

America’s AI Cities (% of workers who use AI in their role) 

1. San Francisco (75%)  
2. Miami (71%)  
3. San Diego (69%)  
4. Phoenix (67%)  
5. New York (64%) / Atlanta (64%)  
6. Seattle (63%) / Washington DC (63%)  
7. Charlotte (62%)  
8. Dallas (61%) / Memphis (61%) / New Orleans (61%)  
9. Chicago (59%)  
10. Boston (58%) / Denver (58%)  
11. Los Angeles (56%)  
12. Detroit (55%) / Houston (55%) / Indianapolis (55%)  
13. Philadelphia (54%)  
14. Jacksonville (53%)  
15. Las Vegas (50%)  

Adding to the study, Scott Jayes — Vice President of Value-Added Solutions at RS, commented: “It is interesting to see that more Americans are incorporating AI into their workplaces than ever before. 

“Some have an understandable concern about job security. On the other hand, there’s growing excitement about AI’s potential to enhance efficiency and take over tasks that many find tedious or unenjoyable.  

“What is clear is that AI is reshaping workflows in ways that are hard to ignore — bringing both challenges and opportunities for the modern workforce.” 

About the Author:
Alicia Keene is a Manager specialising in Technical Marketing at RS Americas, based in Fort Worth, Texas.

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