A new survey shows a clear divide in how people view AI at work. Those who don’t use AI, especially older adults and workers in lower-paid jobs, are more likely to feel it could put them at risk. Many say they see it as a threat to their job.
AI use is more common among younger people and those in office-based roles. They tend to feel more positive. Regular users often see it as helpful or even necessary. Non-users are more cautious. That split shapes how people think about the future.
Use Shapes Attitude
Among those who use AI often, most said it was a good thing for their job. Just 18 percent of that group feared job loss. In contrast, nearly half of non-users believed AI could take away their work. Only a small number said it helped.
The pattern was strong across all age groups. Younger people used AI more. Older adults used it less. That gap seemed to shape how each group felt.
Job Type Matters
People in professional or office-based roles were more likely to support AI. They had higher use rates and felt more secure. Around 40 percent in those jobs called AI an opportunity.
By contrast, just a quarter of people in service, sales, or admin jobs said the same. Nearly 40 percent of those in those roles believed AI was a threat. That concern was also high among people doing manual labor.
Class Divide Is Clear
People who saw themselves as working class were more likely to worry. Over half of them said AI might threaten their job. In the middle class, the number was lower. About one in three felt the same way.
This divide was tied to exposure. AI was used more by the middle class. The working class had less access and fewer chances to try it.
Gender and Age Gaps
Men were slightly more likely to use AI than women. Around 65 percent of men said they hadn’t used AI. That number was higher among women, at 73 percent.
The age divide was sharper. About 90 percent of those over 65 hadn’t used AI at all. For those aged 18 to 29, only 37 percent said the same. Use dropped with age.
Education and Politics
Having a degree didn’t change views much, but it did affect use. People with degrees were more likely to try AI in their daily life or at work.
Political views also shaped opinions. Voters who leaned right were more likely to support AI. People backing Reform UK were more likely to view it as a risk.
Work Use Still Limited
Only half of workers under 30 said they had used AI at work. Use dropped with age. It was more common among degree holders and in jobs where tech tools were used more often.
Manual workers had the lowest rates. Office workers were in the middle. Managers and professionals led in workplace use.
Survey Details
The data came from a poll of just over 1,000 people. It was run in March 2025 by YouGov and funded by public research agencies in the UK and Europe.
The results show clear splits in use, access, and attitudes. People with more exposure tend to feel less afraid. Those without it are more cautious, and often more concerned about what comes next.
H/T: Florian Stoeckel / University of Exeter
Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.
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