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If you walk into a meeting room these days, you might notice something odd: fewer people are speaking up, some are outsourcing their notes to artificial intelligence and others are quietly checking their chatbot for what to say next.
 
 

That’s because a new kind of workplace tension is brewing – and it has everything to do with AI.
 
 

A 2025 survey of more than 1,000 full-time workers by recruitment platform Howdy found that as AI becomes more common at work, it’s creating something researchers are calling “AI anxiety” and it’s showing up in very human ways.
 
 

I used to know how to do this myself
 
 

One of the biggest concerns people have is skill loss. Nearly one in four workers say they’re afraid they are losing abilities they used to have and 21 per cent say they’ve already noticed they’re struggling with tasks they used to handle easily, now that AI is doing it for them.
 
 
 

Some are fully leaning into the tools – one in 10 workers now say they rely on AI to do their jobs – while others are wary. In fact, 37 per cent say they judge coworkers who rely on AI, even though they might be doing the same thing themselves.
 
 

And while 28 per cent of workers say AI makes them feel smarter, nearly the same amount say it makes them feel less capable.
 
 

AI is here, but not everyone trusts it
 
 

Even with all the hype, not everyone is convinced AI is the future. More than a third of people surveyed say they believe AI is just a bubble that could burst and cause economic harm. Nearly one in five say their employer’s AI strategy doesn’t feel sustainable, and 19 per cent worry they’ll lose their job because of it.
 
 

Still, people are doing what they can to stay ahead. About a third of workers say they’re already upskilling to stay competitive and 17 per cent are considering going back to school.
 
 

People are bonding with their AI tools and hiding it
 
 

Nearly one in five workers say they’re hiding their use of AI from coworkers. Some go even further – giving their AI tool a name or interacting with it more than their own team. One in five actually prefer talking to AI over colleagues with remote workers being most inclined.

 
 

In some cases, workers aren’t just relying on AI professionally, they’re turning to it emotionally. Twenty-four per cent use it for stress management, and one in six say they’ve formed friendships or even romantic connections with AI.
 
 

What about Gen Z?
 
 

When the data is segmented, it shows Gen Z workers, many of whom grew up with AI tools, are having a different experience. Nearly half say they’re becoming more reliant on AI in all areas of life and 14 per cent say they already depend fully on it to do their jobs. At the same time, 28 per cent say AI is actually making them “more stupid.”
 
 

Despite that, many are trying to future-proof their career, with 29 per cent planning to pursue a higher degree.
 
 

The takeaway for employers

 
 

AI isn’t going anywhere but, if left unchecked, its overuse could chip away at the very things that keep employees productive, creative and connected. The report suggests employers have an opportunity to help by encouraging thoughtful AI use, investing in digital literacy and doubling down on human connection.
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

49 per cent
 
 

That’s how many business leaders say “productivity” feels like a buzz word, with more than half admitting it is often discussed but not backed by meaningful change.

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

It can be hard to know when it’s time to retire. There is no ‘aha’ moment and there may not always be clear indications that it’s time to close that chapter of your life.
 
 

According to this article in The Wall Street Journal, a few signs it’s time to retire include arriving at work feeling numb, avoiding promotions and feeling gloomy on Sunday evening.

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

“Across boardrooms and industries, we are making daily decisions about productivity, cost control and flexibility that, together, could be eroding the belief systems of our people. We may be draining purpose from work, replacing inspiration with compliance and mistaking attendance for engagement. If that continues, we risk not just damaging culture, but quietly dismantling Canada’s economic engine – employee engagement,” writes chief executive officer of the Human Resources Professional Association Jodi Kovitz.

 
 

Ms. Kovitz says that while macro-level forces will always affect the economy, the everyday choices leaders make play an incredibly important role in inspiring and engaging the workers who drive economic growth.