• One in six US workers admit to faking AI use to keep up with job demands
• The real competition isn’t AI—it’s coworkers who know how to leverage it
• Many employees mimic AI-savvy colleagues to seem relevant in evolving workplaces

As artificial intelligence becomes embedded in daily office life, a surprising trend is emerging: a growing number of US workers are pretending to use AI.

According to a recent survey by the tech recruitment platform Howdy.com, 16% of employees admit they’ve lied about using AI tools at work.

This behavior isn’t just about deception—it reflects mounting pressure driven by mixed messages from leadership and deep-rooted fears about staying relevant in an AI-driven economy.

The rise of artificial competence

At the core of this trend is what some are calling “AI-nxiety”—a growing sense of unease fueled by contradictory workplace signals.

Companies push employees to adopt AI for greater efficiency, yet simultaneously warn that automation or AI-proficient workers could make certain roles obsolete.

This tension is especially strong when employees compare themselves to technically adept peers, like engineers who seamlessly integrate large language models and other AI systems into their workflows.

As one observer noted on The Register: “Your job might not be taken by AI—just by an engineer who uses it well.”

For many, the takeaway is clear: learn AI or risk being sidelined.

By late 2023, an EY survey revealed that 66% of white-collar workers in the US worried they’d be overlooked for promotions in favor of colleagues more skilled with AI.

In response, some workers aren’t learning the tools—they’re imitating those who do.

Without real training, performance becomes performative.

Howdy.com found that 25% of employees expected to use AI receive no formal training.

Left to navigate complex, poorly integrated systems on their own, many give up on genuine adoption and instead simulate usage.

Meanwhile, workplace culture adds another layer of confusion.

Data from Slack’s Workforce Index shows that nearly half of knowledge workers globally hesitate to tell their managers they use AI, fearing it might make them look unoriginal or lazy.

So, while some fake AI use to appear cutting-edge, others downplay it even when they’re actively using the tools.

The result is a workplace culture riddled with pretense.

The gap between corporate messaging—“AI is essential”—and employee reality—unclear guidelines, minimal support, and shifting definitions of skill—is widening.

Whether AI ultimately displaces jobs or simply changes them, the emotional and psychological impact is already visible.

Faking AI competence isn’t just a quirky workaround—it’s become a quiet act of self-preservation in uncertain times.

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