Many workers feel nostalgic for pre-AI work era, survey finds

A survey by digital consulting group Adaptavist reveals that a majority of knowledge workers are experiencing nostalgia for the era before artificial intelligence became commonplace in the workplace. Nearly two-thirds, or 65%, of the 2,500 respondents reported feeling this way.

The study also indicates that AI is prompting significant career re-evaluations. One in three workers stated that AI has already led them to contemplate changing industries, a sentiment shared by 46% of C-level executives. Furthermore, over a third (34%) reported considering early retirement as a result of AI's integration into their work.

Interestingly, the preference for a pre-AI work environment was most pronounced among Gen Z workers, with 42% favoring this older model. Despite these nostalgic sentiments, most respondents acknowledged AI's importance, with 67% wanting their organizations to increase its use and 69% believing their company employs AI ethically.

The report suggests that the "verification tax"—the need to check and correct AI-generated work—may contribute to some pre-AI nostalgia. However, a deeper cause could be existential, as workers question if the "soul of their work has been traded in for the sake of convenience and efficiency." Almost half (46%) are frustrated that tasks requiring years of expertise can now be performed by almost anyone using AI.

These findings highlight a need for organizations to emphasize human ownership of work and ensure employees feel their expertise remains valuable. Adaptavist suggests a more targeted AI implementation that preserves the importance of human expertise, ensuring employees remain confident and in control of their work.