For digital natives like Gen Z and Millennials, AI has become commonplace, especially at work, but new research from Cox Business has found that while they might regularly use AI to support their productivity, almost half are worried about disclosing to their employer how much of their work is done using AI.

Polling more than 1,000 Gen Z and Millennial employees, the broadband and network infrastructure company’s latest Workplace Technology Survey found that fears around job loss are a key catalyst for keeping AI use secret at work, with 47% of employees concerned that the tech could replace their jobs.

Cox found that many employees think this could happen relatively soon, with 40% expecting jobs in certain areas to be replaced by AI within the next two to three years.

These fears are being compounded by a lack of formal AI policies, as almost a third (30%) of Gen Z and Millennial staff are either unfamiliar with their firm’s AI guidelines or claim their company has no defined policy, leading them to be hesitant in advertising its use.

AI isn’t the only technology being used in the shadows, with 63% of respondents reporting using personal apps or software for work purposes, creating a potential security risk for organisations.

Rather than using workplace-approved tools, the survey found that 65% of employees are more comfortable turning to those they know best, added to which 54% of Millennials and 42% of Gen Z think their personal tools are faster and easier to use.

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Part of the problem is the slow creep of tool sprawl, as nearly 70% of employees report being overwhelmed by the number of tools they are expected to use, with only 16% of younger employees feeling they have input in selecting or recommending workplace tech, leading to poor adoption.

But the survey found that despite these issues, the majority of Gen Z (86%) and Millennials (88%) feel confident in adopting new technology at work, with Cox saying companies should look to align their tech plans with this fast-growing workforce. 

“This presents a tremendous opportunity for companies and their IT teams to enhance their strategies around tech investment, rollouts, training, and policies; ensuring they meet the evolving needs of a workforce that is rapidly becoming the majority,” said Jeff Breaux, executive vice president and COO for Cox Communications.