AI agents are everywhere right now. They write emails, design code, summarize documents, and promise to make work faster and smarter. From boardrooms to classrooms, the hype makes it seem like artificial intelligence has already become a daily work companion for most people, even as studies suggest AI isn’t quite ready for everyday office work just yet.
A new Gallup poll suggests the reality of the workplace is very different. According to Gallup’s latest Workforce Survey, only 12% of working adults in the U.S. say they use AI at work on a daily basis. About a quarter use it frequently, i.e. a few times a week, while almost half say they only use AI a few times a year.
While this is a significant increase from 2023, when only 21% of workers admitted to using AI at least occasionally, it also shows that AI is far from being an everyday tool for most workers. According to another study, humans still outperform AI when it comes to higher levels of creativity.
How AI is used varies depending on the industry and role type
The survey shows how inconsistent AI adoption actually is. Usage is highest in technology-related roles, where about 6 in 10 workers say they use AI frequently and about 3 in 10 use it daily. Acceptance is also higher in the financial and education sectors, as employees use AI to review documents, generate ideas or organize written communication.
For example, a high school art teacher told TechXplore that she uses chatbots to refine emails to parents and even help write letters of recommendation, saving time and reducing complaints. Outside of these areas, AI use is declining sharply.
Workers in retail, healthcare, manufacturing and other service jobs are far less likely to use AI tools as part of their daily routine. Even when employees use AI, most rely on chatbots or virtual assistants rather than more advanced systems, and many only use them occasionally.
Meanwhile, Gallup data also shows that fear has not caught up with hype. Many workers also say AI is unlikely to replace their jobs in the next five years, although that confidence has waned slightly since 2023. Taken together, the results paint a clear picture. AI is spreading quickly, but for now it remains a useful accessory tool rather than a daily necessity for many workers.
