AI Insights

Some Employees Are Pretending to Use AI—Report

Published

1 week ago

August 27, 2025

Even as artificial intelligence grows in popularity, both in personal use and in the workplace to boost productivity, some employees are actually pretending to use AI, according to a new report from Howdy.com.

Roughly 16 percent of professionals sometimes pretend to use AI, according to the survey of more than 1,000 full-time workers.

Why It Matters

The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence systems is leading to major changes in how Americans interact with technology, information and everyday services.

As AI becomes increasingly integrated into web searches, workplace tasks and personal routines, data from multiple recent studies have indicated a sizable shift in user behavior, digital literacy and the broader impact on work and social structures.

However, as many workplaces begin to expect AI skills from workers, some employees may inevitably lag behind in skill adoption and pretend to use the tool in an attempt to appear more productive.

File photo: A person holds a smartphone displaying the ChatGPT logo on its screen in front of a blurred OpenAI logo.

Cheng Xin/Getty Images

What To Know

In today’s workplace, 59 percent of workers report using AI at least daily, according to Howdy.com.

However, the onus may be falling on employees financially, as 56 percent admitted to paying out of their own pockets for more powerful AI tools at work.

Companies are also generally expecting AI use from workers, according to the report, as 75 percent said they are expected to use AI officially, and 22 percent said they feel pressured to use AI in situations they’re unsure about.

“Workers pretending to use AI is a symptom of modern micromanagement. Bosses want to see productivity, and AI has become the latest checkbox,” HR consultant Bryan Driscoll told Newsweek. “Employees fake it because they fear being judged as less competent if they don’t adopt it quickly, especially older workers, which could open companies to legal risks.”

This may lead to the 16 percent of professionals who say they have actually pretended to use AI at work.

“There’s a perception that AI adoption is synonymous with career security, and second, organizations often overestimate how seamlessly new technology fits into daily workflows,” Reza Hashemi, CEO and founder of Binj and ZEROin AI, told Newsweek. “Long term, if businesses don’t bridge the gap between hype and practical application, they risk creating a culture of fear and superficial adoption instead of true innovation.”

However, among those that do incorporate AI into their workflows, 72 percent said they were less burned out as a result, and 74 percent reported having less workplace stress.

What People Are Saying

Reza Hashemi, CEO and founder of Binj and ZEROin AI, told Newsweek: “Employees pretending to use AI is less about laziness and more about pressure. Many workers feel their value is tied to how quickly they adopt new tools, even if their company hasn’t given them the training, policies, or practical use cases to succeed with AI. In that gap, people ‘fake it’ to appear modern, efficient, and competitive.”

HR consultant Bryan Driscoll told Newsweek: “Long term, this obsession with appearances over outcomes erodes trust, deepens generational divides, and creates a workplace that values showmanship over actual results.”

What Happens Next

Companies that are able to help their employees use AI in an easy, understandable way will likely gain a competitive edge in the years to come, experts say.

“The companies that win with AI won’t just mandate its use, they’ll invest in making it understandable, safe, and genuinely useful,” Hashemi said. “That’s when employees stop pretending and start leveraging AI to unlock real productivity.”

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Related Topics:AI Artificial intelligence Tech workforce

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AI Insights

UAPB librarian leads session on artificial intelligence in STEM fields

Published

59 minutes ago

September 4, 2025

The Editors

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff librarian Shenise McGhee presented on AI-powered smart tools at the 2025 STEM Librarians South Conference hosted by the University of Texas at Arlington.

This annual conference, held virtually and in person, brings together librarians of science, technology, engineering and math from across the United States and beyond to exchange ideas, strategies and innovations in areas such as library instruction, reference services, collection development and outreach, according to a news release.

As a featured panelist during the virtual portion of the July conference, McGhee presented a session titled “Smart Tools: AI-Powered Pathways to STEM Student Success.”

She explored how advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning are reshaping education, especially in STEM fields, where data-driven decision-making and adaptive learning are increasingly vital. She emphasized how STEM librarians can harness AI tools to enhance student learning, improve academic performance and promote equity in STEM education.

McGhee examined emerging technologies, including AI tutoring systems, intelligent learning platforms and personalized machine learning applications. She demonstrated how these tools can create inclusive learning environments by adapting instruction to meet individual student needs, delivering real-time feedback, automating instructional tasks and predicting student challenges before they arise.

Her presentation also emphasized the critical role of STEM librarians in supporting the ethical use of AI tools, teaching students how to engage with AI tools critically and effectively in their coursework by providing access to the digital resources that empower student success. Attendees were offered practical strategies, case studies and best practices to integrate AI into library services and student support initiatives.

In addition, McGhee spotlighted the UAPB STEM Academy, a five-to-six-week summer residential program designed to prepare incoming STEM majors for the academic rigor of college and life on campus. She discussed how the library collaborates with other campus departments to support students through targeted library instruction and services that contribute to academic success.

“STEM librarians are uniquely positioned to guide students through the evolving AI-driven educational landscape,” McGhee said. “By integrating smart tools and inclusive practices, we not only improve outcomes, but we also empower students to thrive.”

For more information, visit:

John Brown Watson Memorial Library

STEM Academy

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Oakland Ballers to use artificial intelligence to manage Saturday home game against Great Falls

Published

3 hours ago

September 4, 2025

The Editors

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Oakland Ballers manager Aaron Miles will leave it to artificial intelligence to decide when to pinch hit or replace his pitcher.

The playoff-bound Ballers of the independent Pioneer League are turning to AI to manage most aspects of Saturday’s home game against the Great Falls Voyagers at Raimondi Park. So it might feel almost like a day off for the skipper, whose lineup and in-game decisions will even be made for him — from a tablet he will have in the dugout providing instructions.

The starting pitcher is already set.

“Luckily it’s only game. Maybe we’ve done so well that the AI will just keep doing what we’re doing,” Miles joked Wednesday. “Being a 70-win team we’ve got a very good bench. It’s hard to write a lineup without leaving somebody out that’s really good. This game I’ll be like, ‘Hey, it’s not on me for not writing you in there, it’s on the computer.’ It won’t be my fault if somebody’s not in the lineup, I guess I’ll enjoy that.”

Yet Miles knows he still might have to step in with some lineup adjustments, because the human element still matters when it comes to someone who could need rest or take a break because of injury or other circumstances.

Co—founder Paul Freedman said the second-year club will produce the first AI-powered professional sporting event. It happens to be Fan Appreciation day, too.

Last year, during the Ballers’ inaugural season, they had a game in which fans wrote the lineup and chose the uniforms — but Oakland lost. So the Ballers are doing it differently this time by partnering with AI company Distillery to control almost everything.

“The AI won’t be able to do third-base coaching, we don’t have the technology for that yet,” Freedman said. “The human will be responsible for waving somebody home or throwing up the hand. But those kind of situational decisions, we will look to the machine to make the call.”

Freedman figures with the Ballers having locked up the top seed for playoffs, this is a perfect opportunity to give AI a try.

And no need for Miles to be concerned with job security, even with the greater potential for Monday-morning quarterbacking when it comes to his moves.

“The good news is Aaron has won 100 games for us and right now our winning percentage is well over 75%, I think his job is pretty safe,” Freedman said. “And we’re happy with the decisions he’s made, but we do think it’s cool. One of the fun things about being a sports fan is being able to engage in conversations after the game about the key decisions. So this is a breadcrumb for us for what we think could be something if it works well could be part of a fan experience application or something that we do where after a game we kind of highlight what the key decisions were that our manager made and which ones kind of went against the grain — either for right or wrong.”

Miles has already experimented with AI a couple of times but earlier this season one roster showed up as the 2024 group. He expects AI might end up making a smarter decision just based on real-time data.

“I fooled around with this before just for fun, now it’s for real,” he said, “for one game.”

Ballers catcher Tyler Lozano is open-minded to incorporating new elements into the game to complement the analytics — as long as the treasured traditions aren’t lost.

“It’s immersive, it’s definitely involving new technology, new everything. It’s interesting to see what an AI platform or AI software can do for a baseball team,” Lozano said. “There’s always going to be a human element in the game of baseball. I think in sports period there’s going to be some type of human element because you’re live, you’re there. These AI platforms aren’t watching the game or don’t see all of the intricate moments that happen throughout the game and the human element of the player. I don’t think you’re going to lose that.”

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

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