Survey reveals not only an 'AI readiness gap' but also an emerging phenomenon of 'AI shame' in the workplace-especially in the C-suite

An "AI readiness gap" exists where top executives and Gen Z are among the heaviest AI users but receive minimal guidance, training, or employer approval. Nearly half of employees (48.8%) conceal AI use to avoid judgment; 53.4% of C-suite leaders hide their AI habits despite frequent usage. Gen Z shows high AI adoption—89.2% use AI at work and 89.2% use unsanctioned tools—yet only 6.8% report extensive training and 13.5% received none. Gen Z often masks AI assistance: 62.6% passed AI-generated work as their own and 55.4% feigned understanding in meetings. Extensive training rates rose only marginally from 7.0% to 7.5%.

A new survey reveals a striking "AI readiness gap" in the modern workplace: those using AI tools the most-including top executives and Gen Z employees-are often the least likely to receive meaningful guidance, training, or even company approval for their use. The findings come from WalkMe, an SAP company, which surveyed over 1,000 U.S. workers for the 2025 edition of its " AI in the Workplace " survey.

This discomfort is especially pronounced at the top, with 53.4% of C-suite leaders admitting they conceal their AI habits-despite being the most frequent users. Entry-level workers aren't exempt, but the paradox deepens at the executive level, highlighting how even the most empowered employees remain uneasy. Gen Z: eager, but unsupported Gen Z's relationship with AI appears to be both enthusiastic and anxious. A striking 62.6% have completed work using AI but pretended it was all their own effort-the highest rate among any generation.

But only 6.8% report extensive, time-consuming AI training, and 13.5% received none at all. This is the lowest of any age group. Despite this, an overwhelming 89.2% use AI at work-and just as many (89.2%) use tools that weren't provided or sanctioned by their employer. Only 7.5% reported receiving extensive training with AI tools. This is a strikingly small advance from 2024, when the same survey from WorkMe found 7.0% reported extensive training-just a 0.5% increase.

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