A new survey of U.S. professionals reveals that 20 percent are using artificial intelligence tools at work without their employer’s knowledge or formal permission. Despite unclear policies in many workplaces, AI appears to be gaining steady ground among employees in marketing, sales, and operations.
AI Use Drives Confidence and Efficiency
Among those surveyed, 77 percent said using AI tools regularly helps them feel more confident in the quality of their work. Seventy-five percent believe AI enhances their company’s ability to compete with larger or more established firms.
The poll, conducted by Talker Research and commissioned by ActiveCampaign, gathered input from 1,000 business owners, marketers, and sales professionals across the U.S. Respondents said they were using AI most commonly in marketing roles, with 52 percent applying it to creative planning, 48 percent using it during execution, and 44 percent using it to test or measure effectiveness.
Beyond marketing, AI was being used for customer service (31 percent), operations and people management (28 percent), and product-related tasks (25 percent).
Discomfort and Policy Gaps Still Limit Broader Adoption
Although almost half of respondents (48 percent) use AI tools at work on a daily basis, a significant portion remains cautious. Seventeen percent reported using AI less than once per month, and 9 percent said they do not use it at all in their official duties.
The hesitation appears rooted in several concerns. One in five feared the quality of AI output may fall short, while 21 percent of employees expressed worry about losing their jobs to automation. Other concerns involved potential damage to customer trust (19 percent) and negative feedback from peers or clients (17 percent).
In total, 57 percent of participants said they had either held negative views of AI themselves or heard critical opinions from others. Some said criticism came from social media (20 percent), while others cited direct feedback from clients (18 percent). One in five admitted they had been personally skeptical of AI.
Personal Use Often Comes First
The study found that many people began using AI tools outside of work. Among those who used AI in both personal and professional contexts, 66 percent started at home first. On average, it took users six weeks to understand how to use the tools in personal tasks, with a similar learning period applying to work-related use.
Clear Productivity Gains Reported
Respondents said AI helped them reclaim time and cut costs once they became familiar with the tools. In a typical week, AI use saved them 13 hours. Those who used AI daily reported 14 hours saved, while those using it infrequently saved around 6 hours.
Operational savings followed a similar pattern. On average, AI tools saved respondents $4,739 per month. For daily users, that figure rose to $5,038. For those who used AI less than once a month, average savings dropped to $2,237.
Some said AI integration made them more effective in managing workloads. Thirty-nine percent said it improved their task and resource efficiency. Another 29 percent said it increased their confidence in output quality, and 37 percent reported feeling more creative in how they approached marketing tasks.
Marketing, Creative, and Data Teams See Strongest Results
AI appears to deliver the most benefit in roles tied to strategy, content, and analysis. Eighty-two percent said it helped with marketing, 78 percent said it supported design and creative tasks, and 75 percent found it useful in analytics.
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