AI use damages professional reputation, study suggests
2 min read
Summary
A new study from Duke University has revealed that employees who use AI tools such as ChatGPT and Claude at work are perceived more negatively by their colleagues, finding that the use of such tools leads to a decline in perceived diligence, competence, and self-assuredness.
Four experiments were conducted with a total of 4,400 participants to reach this conclusion, with the consistency of the results indicating that this is not a demographic issue.
The perception of AI tool users leads them to disclose their use less frequently, which exacerbates the stigma and prevents clarification and discussion of the benefits of AI.
The study suggests a Catch-22 scenario for employers and employees, where using AI can increase productivity on the one hand, but on the other hand, can damage the professional reputation of the employee.
The authors of the study suggest that future research will be needed to find a way to mitigate these negative effects and allow the benefits of AI to be realised in the workplace.
This study highlights the need for broader social discussion about the uses and misuses of AI, as well as the need for ethical guidelines to be developed for its use in the workplace.
