AI is no longer just an experimental tool in the workplace—it’s emerging as a teammate. But despite its growing utility, workers remain cautious, particularly in the absence of clear guidance.

Three new studies and surveys released last month offer a fresh look at how AI is impacting job performance, workplace culture, and employee attitudes across industries and experience levels.

AI as a Co-Worker, Not Just a Tool

A large-scale randomized controlled trial conducted by researchers from Harvard, Wharton, and the Digital Data Design Institute studied 776 professionals at Procter & Gamble as they completed product development tasks using GPT-4. The tasks ranged from packaging design to retail strategy.

The study found that individuals using AI performed as well as teams of two humans. More strikingly, teams that used AI were more likely to produce top-tier solutions—landing in the top 10% of ideas.

“AI sometimes functions more like a teammate than a tool,” noted Wharton professor Ethan Mollick, one of the paper’s authors. He suggested that companies may need to rethink team structures and how tasks are assigned.

Interestingly, the study also found that workers with less experience performed nearly on par with more seasoned teams when assisted by AI—suggesting that the technology can help close knowledge gaps. Workers also reported feeling more enthusiastic and less anxious when using AI.

Gen Z Wants Guidance—But Isn’t Getting It

A new Gallup and Walton Family Foundation survey revealed a disconnect between Gen Z’s comfort with technology and their actual use of AI at work. Of the 3,465 respondents aged 13 to 28, more than half said their employers had no formal AI use policy. And of those who did, only 10% found the guidance to be “extremely clear.”

Despite their digital fluency, many Gen Zers remain skeptical. Nearly two-thirds said they trust human-generated work more than AI-generated results. Almost half believe AI harms critical thinking—even though most agree it improves speed and access to information.

The AI Divide Among Software Engineers

Meanwhile, among software developers, reactions to AI are split. A Wired survey of 730 engineers found that while 75% had tried tools like ChatGPT, only about a third were optimistic about AI’s impact. Nearly 40% described themselves as pessimists—especially mid-career coders.

Early-career engineers were more enthusiastic: three-quarters identified as AI optimists. Even some veteran developers have embraced it, with one-third incorporating AI into their workflow.

Still, some adoption is happening quietly—4% of developers admitted to using AI at work without informing their employer.

Bottom Line

As AI becomes more integrated into the workplace, it’s changing how teams function, how work gets done, and how employees feel about their roles. But the transition isn’t frictionless. Without clear policies and trust in the tools, AI’s full potential may remain untapped.