A new report released by Writer and Workplace Intelligence reveals that a significant number of employees are attempting to derail corporate AI deployment. In a survey of 2,400 knowledge workers across the US, UK, and Europe, 29% of respondents admitted to sabotaging company AI strategies—a figure that climbs to 44% among Gen Z employees.
This sabotage takes many forms, including feeding proprietary company data into public AI tools, using unauthorized AI software, or outright refusing to use AI altogether. Some employees even admitted to manipulating performance reviews or intentionally reducing their output to make AI appear less effective.
Resisting AI Could Increase Layoff Risks
Among those who admitted to sabotaging AI, 30% cited fears of job replacement as their primary motivation. This "Fear of Being Obsolete" (FOBO) is widespread in the modern workplace. A previous KPMG study also found that four in ten employees worry that AI will steal their jobs.
However, this resistance may backfire. The survey indicates that employees who refuse to adopt AI face a higher risk of being laid off than those who embrace the technology. In fact, 60% of executives say they are considering cutting staff members who refuse to learn AI skills.
Furthermore, executives are concerned about the security risks posed by AI, the potential erosion of creativity, and the poor execution of corporate AI strategies. While companies are racing to implement AI agents, a study from MIT suggests that 95% of enterprise generative AI pilots fail—not because of technical quality, but because of a massive learning gap between the organization and the tools.
In contrast, "super users" who proactively leverage AI are seeing much greater rewards. Dan Schawbel, Executive Partner at Workplace Intelligence, noted that over the past year, these employees were three times more likely to receive promotions and raises than their "laggard" counterparts. These high-efficiency users save an average of nearly nine hours of work per week using AI, making them 4.5 times more efficient than those lagging behind.
