"Half of workers today admit they're over-reliant on AI, according to a new study from software company GoTo and Workplace Intelligence, a research agency focused on the nature of work. The 2026 Pulse of Work report -a survey of 2,500 respondents of both knowledge workers and IT managers on AI deployment-found that Gen Z workers were especially likely to treat the tech as a crutch, and 62% admitted to it."
"Some young workers think that overreliance has crossed a critical turning point: 40% say they can't get by without the technology. GoTo CEO Rich Veldran told Fortune an overreliance on AI poses a sticky dilemma, especially for younger workers looking to learn the ropes. "It's only in the rearview mirror that folks will look back and say, 'You know what, I'm actually relying on it too much. Perhaps I'm not learning some of the things I need to learn,'" he said."
"While AI takes over more work functions, firms are pushing the tech on employees regardless of their comfort using it. Some, like Amazon, even encourage " tokenmaxxing," or using as many AI tokens (the basic building block of AI prompts) among workers as possible. But according to Veldran, growing in an AI-enabled company requires a delicate balance between adopting the technology and developing one's own expertise and skill set."
""Use AI to take work out of the system because it does a tremendous job of that," Veldran said. "Don't cede to it all human judgment." Striking that balance is important not just for career development but for cognitive ability. A 2025 Microsoft study found that leaning too heavily on AI tools is associated with weaker critical thinking. There's also a brewing tension between managers and workers around AI adoption."
A study from GoTo and Workplace Intelligence found that about half of workers are over-reliant on AI. Gen Z workers are especially likely to use AI as a crutch, with 62% admitting reliance. Some young workers report they cannot get by without the technology, and many believe overreliance may have passed a critical point for learning. Companies continue pushing AI adoption even when employees feel uncomfortable. Guidance emphasizes using AI to remove work from the system while preserving human judgment and developing personal expertise. Research also links heavy AI reliance with weaker critical thinking. Tensions are emerging between managers and workers as some workers resist or sabotage AI rollouts out of fear.
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