Deep age, gender, occupation, and class-based social divisions depend on how people use generative AI applications such as ChatGPT, and how they perceive the impact on job security, new research shows.
New research shows that people who do not use genai or older people are more likely to view this technology as a threat to their work rather than an opportunity.
People who use genai frequently in their personal and workplaces are more likely to view it as an opportunity rather than a threat to job safety.
Of those who play professional and managerial roles, 41% consider genai as an employment opportunity. That figure fell to just 25% among those working in management, sales or service roles.
In contrast, 39% of manager, sales, and service job respondents (and 35% of manual roles) viewed genai as a threat to job safety. Only 24% of experts and managers shared their concerns.
Relatedly, concerns are widespread among the working class. 58% of people identifying as working class view AI as a threat, but only 33% of middle class people.
Women and older adults were also more likely to perceive genai as a threat. Obtaining a university degree did not seem to be related to whether someone viewed genai as a threat or an opportunity.
This study found several associations with political affiliation. Conservative voters view genai as an opportunity and more frequently view UK voters as a threat.
Data from this study were collected in March 2025 via a 1,061 YouGov online survey and funded by UKRI and Horizon Europe.
“The single most powerful factor related to people's views is whether they actually use genai – both at work and in their personal lives. Even rare users are much more likely to view Genai as an opportunity.
For example, 50% of frequent users see Genai as a job opportunity, while only 17% of non-users. In contrast, only 18% of frequent users view Genai as a threat to job safety, while 49% of non-users.
The amount used varies considerably depending on the age. Only a third (37%) of ages 18-29 said they were non-users compared to 64% of ages 30-49, 78% of ages 50-64, and 89% of ages 65 and older.
Men who participated in the study used genai slightly more than women. 65% of men reported not using AI, while 73% of women reported. University alumni also report higher uses, with 57% of people who use university degrees using university degrees using Genai in their personal lives, compared to 75% of people who do not have university degrees.
The survey also asked specifically about the use of genai in the workplace. Actual usage may be high, but about half of reports of people under the age of 30 using Genai in the workplace have been reported. Workplace use decreases sharply with age and is also higher among people with university degrees. Use is particularly widespread among professional and administrative role users, followed by manager, sales and service roles, with the lowest of manual role roles.
“These divisions are of concern as there is a risk of strengthening existing inequality,” said Professor Florian Stokell, who led the study.
“Our research shows a major divide in the use of AI itself, which may not be surprising, but it is still a concern.”
A report containing topline results is available at www.florianstoeckel.eu.
