Is using AI at work cheating? Report shows Kiwis feel 'guilty' but do it anyway

Ever been tempted to get a little help from AI to smash through your workload? Turns out plenty of Kiwis are doing it, but new research has found more aren't keen to admit it.

The latest AI Paradox at Work report from Employment Hero shows AI is quickly becoming part of everyday working life, with more than half of Kiwi workers teaching themselves AI skills through platforms like YouTube and TikTok.

Even more (57%) say AI is helping them build more valuable skills - but there's still a blurred line around where it fits in the workplace, especially when it comes to guilt.

How do Kiwis feel about using AI at work?

Almost four in 10 workers say using AI to complete parts of their job feels like “cheating”, while 37% admit they feel uncomfortable and guilty using it.

The research also found 42% of Kiwis believe using AI frequently makes them feel less needed, almost a third (32%) have passed off AI-generated work as their own, and 28% use AI tools without their employer knowing.

Employment Hero General Manager New Zealand Neil Webster says many workplaces are still figuring out what AI should look like on the job.

“Many businesses are still working out what AI should look like in their workplace, which is understandable because it is evolving quickly and there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach,” he says.

“However, we're seeing employers provide clear guidance and practical support for their teams and celebrate the productivity gains AI enables, which makes people more confident to use it in ways that benefit both the business and their own professional development.”

He added that workers who know AI best are often the ones feeling the most conflicted about it.

“Workers with the most AI competence are the most conflicted. They know what it can do for them but are anxious about the impact it might have on their role and their livelihood,” Webster says.

AI isn’t here to replace jobs

While there are plenty of fears around AI taking over jobs, the research suggests many businesses are looking at it as a tool for productivity rather than to create job cuts.

Nearly one in five Kiwi business leaders (18%) believe AI will create new roles, while half expect existing jobs to evolve.

Job creation sentiment outweighs fears of job losses by more than two to one, and only 19% of businesses think their workforce will look the same in 12 months.

Dr Guy Bate, Thematic Lead for Artificial Intelligence at University of Auckland, says the future of AI isn’t just about knowing how to use the technology - it’s about combining it with human judgement.

“It is important to remember that AI is not simply individual proficiency with AI, or just AI. It is the capacity to combine human judgement with AI in ways that improve the quality of work and decision-making while retaining human responsibility,” he says.

NZ businesses are falling behind when it comes to AI

While Kiwi workers are embracing AI, the research suggests many local businesses are still playing catch-up compared to countries like Australia and the UK.

Just 15% of New Zealand businesses say AI is core to their operations, compared with almost a quarter in the UK.

And only just over a third of Kiwi employers say AI is helping drive more innovation in their business, compared with 45% in Australia and 55% in the UK.

Webster encourages businesses to stop holding back and start exploring.

“AI's greatest value is increasing human capability by making things possible that were previously too difficult or costly. Rather than replacing people, it takes on repetitive work in key areas so businesses and their people can focus on higher-value, human-focused work,” he says.

“AI is here to stay. Instead of feeling guilty about using it, people need to feel confident using it, and workplaces need to switch their mindset to having an AI-first approach.”

So, if your feeling a bit ballsy at work today, you could give the ol' nudge to the boss and send them this - with the kindest of regards, of course!