Despite AI becoming a routine part of work, employees still draw a clear line around where they’re willing to trust it. According to a new national survey of more than 1,000 U.S. employed workers conducted by AI resume builder Resume Now, nearly all workers (97%) rely on human judgment first, choosing either their own judgment or input from coworkers or managers before turning to AI tools or automated systems.
The findings from The Workplace Trust in AI Report suggest workers are not anti-AI. They are willing to use it, but not when work requires context, accountability, or strategic judgment. Transparency also emerged as an expectation, with 91% of workers expecting some level of disclosure around AI use in work content.
Key Insights:
- Human judgment comes first: 97% rely on their own judgment or input from coworkers or managers as their first step when making a work decision.
- Pressure does not make AI the default: 93% rely on themselves, coworkers, or managers when decisions are high-stakes and time-sensitive.
- Workers choose people over AI: 72% would follow a coworker’s judgment over AI output if the two gave conflicting answers.
- AI confidence is still developing: 64% say their trust in using AI for work has increased or stayed the same compared to a year ago.
- Workers assign AI to a support role: Research or information gathering was the top area where workers were most likely to rely on AI at work, selected by 24%.
- AI disclosure expectations vary: 91% expect some level of disclosure around AI use in work content.
Workers’ Default First Step Is Human Evaluation
Despite AI’s growing role at work, the vast majority of workers still begin with human judgment. When asked about their default first step when making a work decision, workers said:
- Their own judgment: 74%
- Human input (coworkers or managers): 23%
- AI tools or automated systems: 3%
Workers Still Choose People Under Pressure
When the stakes rise, workers double down on human judgment instead of AI. When asked which source they rely on most during high-stakes and time-sensitive decision-making, workers opted for:
- Their own judgment: 60%
- Human input (coworkers or managers): 33%
- AI tools or automated systems: 7%
When AI and Coworkers Disagree, Workers Prefer People
When AI and people disagree, workers overwhelmingly trust their coworkers. If AI and a coworker gave conflicting answers, most workers would still side with the human’s perspective.
- Would follow the coworker’s judgment: 72%
- Would follow the AI output: 28%
Workers Are Still Adjusting to AI
While many workers say their trust in using AI for work has increased or stayed the same, a sizable share was not using AI a year ago, suggesting workplace AI norms are still developing. Compared to a year ago, workers’ trust in using AI for work has:
- Stayed about the same: 37%
- Wasn’t using AI a year ago: 28%
- Increased: 27%
- Decreased: 8%
Colleague Confidence Remains Steady
Even as teams increasingly integrate AI, workers’ views of their colleagues’ work remain largely intact. Compared to a year ago, workers’ trust in their coworkers’ work has:
- Stayed about the same: 75%
- Increased: 18%
- Decreased: 8%
Workers Rely on AI for Information, Not Strategy
Workers appear most comfortable using AI to accelerate routine tasks. However, confidence drops sharply when tasks require strategic thinking or judgment. When asked which area they trust AI the most at work, workers reported:
- Research or information gathering: 24%
- Writing (emails/messages/updates): 14%
- Summarizing or synthesizing information: 13%
- Data analysis: 9%
- Planning or strategy: 3%
- Doesn’t trust AI most in any area: 12%
- Doesn’t use AI at work: 25%
AI Disclosure Expectations Vary by Context
Workers widely expect at least some level of transparency around AI use, but expectations differ depending on the situation. When asked when people should disclose AI use in work content, respondents said:
- Always: 51%
- Only when content goes to external audiences: 15%
- Only for high-stakes decisions (legal, financial, hiring, performance): 11%
- Only when asked: 14%
- Never / not necessary: 9%
“AI is quickly becoming part of how work gets done, but these findings show workers do not want it to have the final say in workplace decisions,” said Keith Spencer, career expert at Resume Now. “For workers, the goal should be to use AI as a support tool, not a substitute for their own judgment and experience. That means reviewing outputs, adding context, and being transparent when AI helps shape work content. For employers, the takeaway is not to avoid AI, but to set clear guidelines for oversight, how AI should be used, and when its use should be disclosed.”
To view the full Workplace Trust in AI Report, please click here.
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