Most Workers Fear Being Fired Over AI Mistakes
83% of employees say they fear being fired for an AI mistake, according to a global survey of 2,500 workers and IT leaders conducted by GoTo and Workplace Intelligence.
Productivity gains and lingering anxiety
Respondents who regularly use AI report saving an average of 2.3 hours each workday, suggesting the technology can reduce routine tasks.
Despite the time savings, a majority remain uneasy: 31% admit they have avoided AI tools because of the perceived risk of being blamed for errors.
Policy gaps across company sizes
Only 24% of small businesses and 36% of midsize firms have an AI policy, compared with 53% of large enterprises, leaving many workers without clear guidance.
Among IT leaders, 25% say AI has already caused customer-facing mistakes, while 23% report financial impacts from AI errors.
Nearly all executives—91%—express concern that future AI mistakes could harm their companies.
Leadership comments on risk and reward
“Our research captures an inflection point for businesses,” said Rich Veldran, CEO of GoTo. “In the US alone, there’s an opportunity for more than $2.9 trillion* in potential efficiency gains to be captured from effective AI use. But without clear guardrails, that potential is being eroded by anxiety, misuse, and unaddressed risk. The organizations that close the gap with clear accountability structures, training, and policies that give employees confidence won’t just speed adoption, they’ll be the ones who pull ahead.”
Workers also use AI to sidestep accountability: 26% say the tools let them avoid real responsibility, 25% feel safer blaming AI than admitting personal error, and 17% have blamed AI for a mistake they made.
Responsible use remains limited
Even where policies exist, 84% of employees believe their firms could do more to promote responsible AI use.
More than half—55%—admit they do not always double-check AI outputs, even for high-stakes tasks, while 43% have proceeded with low-quality or potentially fabricated results.
Pressure to adopt AI is strong: 60% feel compelled to use it to boost productivity, 47% say AI performance is evaluated in reviews, and 42% would risk errors rather than appear “slow” or “replaceable.”
Silence and readiness concerns
About 31% report an unspoken pressure to trust AI and stay quiet about its flaws, and 14% who reported errors were advised not to discuss them further.
Agentic AI adoption is also uneven. 46% of small businesses are using or piloting such systems, versus 70% of enterprises. Yet 38% of SMB IT leaders feel unprepared to manage it securely, more than double the 14% of enterprise leaders.
When asked which skills will matter most, 52% of employees highlighted creative thinking and adaptability.
“We’re seeing a new kind of workplace pressure: employees feel they must use AI to avoid looking replaceable, but fear repercussions if it goes wrong,” said Dan Schawbel, Managing Partner at Workplace Intelligence. “Many organizations are accelerating AI adoption without providing the training, policies, and support employees need to use these tools effectively.”
The study, titled “The Pulse of Work in 2026,” was conducted in partnership with Workplace Intelligence and reflects a growing trust gap as AI becomes more embedded in daily tasks.
