AI Acceleration Raises Workplace Concerns

MetLife study finds employees optimistic about AI's efficiency but worried about ethical risks and job obsolescence.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 7:08pm

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A new MetLife study reveals that as AI becomes deeply embedded in everyday work, with 80% of employers using AI tools and 83% saying AI helps employees work faster, employees are increasingly concerned about the ethical and safety risks of AI, including bias, misinformation, and lack of accountability. 61% of employees worry about these risks, up 5% from last year, and 59% fear AI will make jobs or skills obsolete faster than new opportunities are created. Employers acknowledge the tension, with 67% saying AI is creating new points of friction or mistrust between employees and management.

Why it matters

The rapid adoption of AI in the workplace is creating a disconnect between employers' enthusiasm for efficiency gains and employees' growing concerns about the ethical implications and impact on job security. As AI reshapes how work is done, employers need to address these employee fears to maintain trust and ensure a smooth transition.

The details

The MetLife study found that 61% of employees are worried about the ethical and safety risks of AI, including bias, misinformation, and lack of accountability - up 5% from last year. Additionally, 59% of employees fear that AI will make jobs or skills obsolete faster than new opportunities will be created, and 24% say they feel like they need to compete with AI at work. Employers acknowledge these tensions, with 67% saying AI is creating new points of friction or mistrust between employees and management, and 54% struggling to adapt to the new ways of working that they believe employees expect.

  • The MetLife 24th Annual U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study was conducted in October 2025 and January 2026.

The players

MetLife

A leading global financial services company providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management.

Shurawl Sibblies

Chief Human Resources Officer at MetLife.

Todd Katz

EVP, Head of Group Benefits at MetLife.

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What they’re saying

“As AI is rapidly becoming a more significant part of everyday work, many employers are still working through what the integration means for employees and the future of their organizations.”

— Shurawl Sibblies, Chief Human Resources Officer

“Employers are being pushed to rethink what employees need to thrive in an AI-enabled workplace. Supportive benefits play a critical role in helping people manage change, build resilience and stay healthy—while skill development ensures employees can continue to grow and succeed alongside new technology.”

— Todd Katz, EVP, Head of Group Benefits

What’s next

The study suggests that as AI continues to reshape the workplace, employers will need to focus on providing clear expectations, supportive benefits, and skill development opportunities to help employees adapt and succeed.

The takeaway

The rapid adoption of AI in the workplace is creating a growing divide between employers' enthusiasm for efficiency gains and employees' concerns about the ethical implications and impact on job security. Addressing these employee fears will be critical for employers to maintain trust and ensure a smooth transition to an AI-enabled workplace.