AI pressure makes younger workers less comfortable asking questions

New research from Use.AI suggests that some employees feel pressure to consult artificial intelligence before asking colleagues for help. The survey found that 71% of Gen Z employees had experienced this pressure, compared with 44% of employees aged 45 and older.

Overall, 56% of employees said that, since AI arrived, saying “I don’t know” feels risky. Another 49% said colleagues or managers assume they have already checked AI when they ask a question. The survey covered 10,417 working adults in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, the EU and Latin America.

Use.AI Managing Director Matthew Freire said that openly asked questions can expose misunderstandings shared by several people. If employees resolve doubts privately, he said, organizations may find it harder to spot where people struggle to understand their work.

The research also found that 37% of employees had pretended to know something they did not, to avoid looking stupid. The findings suggest that pressure to check AI before speaking up may affect how workers ask for help, though the survey does not establish why employees feel that pressure.