20% of U.S. full-time workers say AI does part of their jobs: survey
A recent survey conducted by Epoch AI in partnership with Ipsos reveals that artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly integrated into the workplace, with 20% of full-time workers in the United States reporting that AI has taken over parts of their job. The findings highlight the growing impact of AI on employment and the nature of work.
Survey Overview
The survey, which sampled 2,000 American adults, was conducted from March 3 to 5, 2026. It aimed to understand how and when people use AI, both for personal and professional purposes. The results indicate that nearly half of Americans have used AI within the past week, with significant implications for job roles and responsibilities.
Key Findings
- AI Replacement of Tasks: 20% of full-time workers stated that AI has replaced certain tasks in their jobs.
- New Tasks Created: 15% of respondents reported taking on new tasks that they would not have done without the assistance of AI.
- Frequency of Use: Among those who used AI in the past week, almost 50% engaged with AI services between two to five days, but 62.5% performed only one to two quick tasks on their most active day.
- Personal vs. Workplace Use: Roughly half of the adults who used AI for work relied on personal subscriptions or free versions of AI services rather than those provided by their employers.
Expert Insights
Caroline Falkman Olsson, a researcher at Epoch AI, noted that the survey results align with existing assumptions about AI’s growing role in the workplace. She emphasized the need for more detailed research to understand how specific tasks are changing due to AI integration.
Nicholas Miailhe, an AI policy leader, warned that the findings should serve as a wake-up call for both workers and policymakers. He pointed out that the trend of AI replacing jobs may be outpacing the augmentation of tasks, indicating a potential restructuring of the labor market.
AI Agents and Their Usage
The survey also explored the usage of AI agents—systems capable of conducting independent tasks. While the overall usage rates are still low, the rapid growth in this area is noteworthy. Only 8% of AI users reported engaging with an AI agent in the past week, compared to 49% who used AI systems for web searches.
Types of AI Applications
The survey examined how American adults are utilizing AI services. The most common applications include:
- Looking up information or recommendations (80%)
- Writing or editing text (59%)
- Brainstorming ideas (53%)
Among the AI services used, ChatGPT emerged as the most popular, utilized by 31% of respondents, followed by Google’s Gemini at 21% and Microsoft’s Copilot at 10.5%.
Implications for the Labor Market
The findings from this survey come amid broader discussions about AI’s impact on the labor market. Recent reports from financial institutions like Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley indicate that AI is responsible for eliminating approximately 16,000 jobs per month due to both automation and augmentation. Economists estimate that AI has the potential to automate tasks that account for around 25% of all work hours.
Conclusion
The integration of AI into the workplace is not just a trend but a significant shift that is reshaping job roles and responsibilities. As AI continues to evolve, it is crucial for both workers and policymakers to understand its implications and adapt to the changing landscape of work.
Note: The information presented in this article is based on a survey conducted by Epoch AI and Ipsos, reflecting the current state of AI integration in the workplace as of April 2026.
