Managers trust AI agents more than junior workers, new research reveals

TL;DR: A SnapLogic survey reveals 81% of workers now use AI tools at work, with 52% of respondents believing they’ll manage AI agents rather than people in future careers. However, persistent training gaps continue to plague organisations, with only 36% receiving formal AI education whilst 54% remain self-taught.

New research has quantified a striking shift in workplace dynamics, revealing that managers increasingly trust AI agents over human junior workers. According to SnapLogic’s latest survey, 81% of workers now use AI tools in their roles, with 57% regularly deploying AI agents to save time.

Context and Background

Despite widespread adoption, significant concerns persist amongst employees. More than two in five workers (43%) worry they’ll be perceived as lazy or untrustworthy when using AI tools, whilst nearly a quarter (24%) feel judged or second-guessed. These anxieties persist even though most workers trust AI and their colleagues to deliver comparable quality work.

The data reveals a fundamental transformation in management expectations. More than half (52%) of respondents, including senior leaders, believe they’re more likely to be managing AI agents than people in their future careers. Sixty-one per cent think managing agents would be easier than managing humans, whilst nearly half (46%) of workers believe they could be managed by an AI agent themselves.

Looking Forward

The survey exposes a critical training gap threatening AI implementation success. Only 36% of workers have received formal AI training, with 54% claiming to be self-taught through trial and error. This disparity disproportionately affects junior workers—70% of managers report feeling very confident with AI compared to just 33% of non-managers.

“The future of work isn’t about replacing people, but instead using AI as a partner to strengthen what’s uniquely human: strategy, insight, and innovation,” explained Dominic Wellington, SnapLogic’s Director of Project Marketing. He emphasised that organisations must think carefully about deploying AI technology to maintain workforce trust and realise genuine business value.

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