Have you ever wanted to enlist the help of AI to crush your workload? It turns out many New Zealanders are doing it, but new research finds that many are reluctant to admit it.
Employment Hero’s latest AI Paradox at Work report shows that AI is rapidly becoming part of everyday work life, with more than half of Kiwi workers teaching themselves AI skills through platforms like YouTube and TikTok.
Even more people (57%) say AI is helping them build more valuable skills. However, the lines remain blurry when it comes to how applicable AI is to the workplace, especially when it comes to guilt.
How do New Zealanders feel about using AI at work?
Nearly four in 10 employees say using AI to complete some part of their job feels like “cheating,” and 37% admit they feel uncomfortable or guilty about using AI.
The survey also found that 42% of New Zealanders believe frequent use of AI makes them feel unwanted, almost a third (32%) have misrepresented an AI-generated job as their own, and 28% have used an AI tool without their employer’s knowledge.
Employment Heroes New Zealand general manager Neil Webster says many workplaces are still figuring out what AI at work looks like.
“Many companies are still considering what AI in the workplace should look like, which makes sense because AI is evolving rapidly and there is no one-size-fits-all approach,” he says.
“However, we are seeing employers provide clear guidance and practical support to their teams and celebrate the productivity gains enabled by AI. This gives people confidence in using AI in ways that benefit both the business and their own professional development.”
He added that the people who feel most conflicted about AI are often the workers who know it best.
“Workers with the most AI capabilities are the most conflicted. They know what AI can do for them, but they are anxious about how AI will impact their roles and lives,” Webster says.
AI does not exist to replace jobs.
While there are many concerns about AI displacing jobs, research shows that many companies see AI as a productivity tool rather than a way to reduce headcount.
Almost one in five Kiwi business leaders (18%) believe AI will create new roles, and half expect existing jobs to evolve.
Job creation sentiment outweighs job loss concerns by more than two to one, with only 19% of businesses expecting their workforce to remain the same in 12 months.
Dr Guy Bate, Artificial Intelligence Theme Leader at the University of Auckland, says the future of AI is not just about knowing how to use the technology, but about combining it with human judgment.
“It’s important to remember that AI is more than just an individual’s AI proficiency or just AI. It’s the ability to combine human judgment with AI in ways that improve the quality of work and decision-making while retaining human responsibility,” he says.
New Zealand businesses are lagging behind when it comes to AI
Research shows New Zealand workers are embracing AI, but many local businesses are still playing catch-up when compared to countries such as Australia and the UK.
Just 15% of New Zealand businesses say AI is core to their operations, compared to almost a quarter in the UK.
And just over a third of New Zealand employers say AI helps drive innovation in their business, compared to 45% in Australia and 55% in the UK.
Webster encourages companies to stop being shy and start exploring.
“The greatest value of AI is that it enhances human capabilities by enabling things that were previously too difficult or expensive. Rather than replacing humans, AI takes over repetitive tasks in critical areas, allowing companies and their employees to focus on higher-value, human-centered work,” he says.
“AI is here to stay. Instead of feeling guilty about using AI, people need to feel confident using it and workplaces need to shift their mindset to an AI-first approach.”
So, if you’re feeling a little awkward at work today, why not nag your boss and send this to him? With the utmost respect, of course!
