Nearly half of employees are concealing their AI use at work, but the reasons why reveal a disconnect between how employers understand AI adoption and what’s actually happening on the ground, particularly among the youngest workers.

According to analytics platform Slingshot’s 2025 Digital Work Trends Report, which surveyed 500 full-time U.S. employees and managers, 45% of workers keep their AI use private to some extent. Yet 60% of employers believe their teams are being fully transparent about AI usage. This perception gap illuminates a misunderstanding of workplace AI dynamics, one that’s especially pronounced across generational lines. READ MORE