A recent survey by Pluralsight of 1,200 technology workers and executives in the US and UK revealed that a staggering 79% of tech workers pretend to have a greater understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) than they actually do. This finding is reflective of a broader trend of overestimation of AI skills within the industry.

Executives appear to exhibit even higher levels of misrepresentation, with 91% admitting to faking knowledge about AI. This dissonance is concerning, especially given that half of the surveyed companies are beginning to offer AI training to their employees.

Despite the inflated self-assessments, the survey found that around 90% of respondents, including both tech workers and executives, believe they possess the necessary skills to integrate AI into their daily work. Interestingly, most respondents felt that their colleagues lack these same skills.

Pluralsight’s report suggested the phenomenon could be attributed to the Dunning-Kruger effect. The report stated, “One potential explanation for this gap is the Dunning-Kruger effect — a well-researched phenomenon where a person’s lack of knowledge and skill in a specific area causes them to greatly overestimate their competence.” This effect implies that many workers may believe they have a strong grasp of AI simply because they don’t recognize their limitations.

Perceptions of AI in the Workplace

The pressure to appear knowledgeable about AI within the tech industry is palpable. Notably, the survey indicated that 95% of tech executives consider AI skills critical for job security, yet many employees feel that using AI tools for work projects is viewed as “lazy” by their companies.

This stigma has led to the rise of “shadow AI,” where employees utilize AI tools without official acknowledgment, which may pose risks to security and compliance. An alarming two-thirds of the respondents reported witnessing colleagues using AI without any disclosure.

This trend underscores a unique challenge: employees not using AI may face difficulties in keeping up with their colleagues, leading to a misperception that AI is not being widely adopted in the workplace. The report added, “It also gives a mistaken impression that nobody is using AI, so there is no urgency to utilize it, when in reality colleagues may be getting AI assistance regularly.”

Moreover, research from earlier this year revealed that software developers are increasingly utilizing non-approved AI tools, inviting concerns about security vulnerabilities.

Job Security and AI Skills Shortage

The report also touched upon the unsettling belief that many respondents hold regarding their job security. A significant 90% of those surveyed believe it is likely that their jobs will be replaced by AI technologies, despite 50% of employers actually adding AI-related positions.

It is clear that the landscape of AI in the workplace is fraught with complexity. Chris McClellen, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Pluralsight, commented, “Fears about AI supplanting jobs is becoming the new norm and employees are quietly worried that using AI in their daily routine looks lazy.” This environment of uncertainty highlights the need for honest dialogue surrounding AI skills and its implications for job security in the tech industry.