A new survey conducted by Ipsos in partnership with Epoch AI, a nonprofit research center, found that artificial intelligence is increasingly impacting the American workforce, with 20% of full-time employees reporting that AI has replaced parts of their job [1]. The survey, which polled 2,000 American adults from March 3 to 5, also revealed that half of American adults used AI in the past week for either personal or work purposes [1]. Among full-time workers, 15% stated they had begun performing new tasks at work that would not have been possible without AI services, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5% [1].
Caroline Falkman Olsson, a lead researcher at Epoch AI, noted that the findings confirm widespread assumptions about AI's growing influence in the workplace, highlighting both augmentation and automation effects. However, Olsson emphasized the need for more detailed research to understand which specific tasks are being affected [1]. Nicholas Miailhe, an AI policy leader at the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence, commented that the survey results indicate labor market restructuring is occurring in real time, warning that the pace of AI-driven job replacement may be outpacing augmentation and urging policymakers to act swiftly [1].
The survey also found that among adults who used AI in the past week, nearly 50% used AI between two and five days per week. Despite this frequency, most users (62.5%) only performed one to two quick tasks using AI on their most intense day, while about 6% reported heavy AI usage [1]. Additionally, roughly half of American adults who used AI for work relied on personal subscriptions or free versions of AI services, rather than employer-provided subscriptions [1].
Epoch AI, founded in 2021, has expanded its research to include the price of AI services, global data center construction, and the types of chips used to develop AI models, reflecting the broader industry trends and infrastructure supporting AI's rapid adoption [1].
CONCLUSION
The survey underscores AI's accelerating role in reshaping the U.S. workforce, with significant portions of full-time employees experiencing job task replacement and augmentation. Policymakers and workers are urged to respond quickly as the window to influence AI's impact on labor markets may be closing. The findings suggest a medium market impact, with potential implications for employment patterns and workplace technology adoption.