How some workers are using AI to save time — even though they fear the tech could replace them

• AI tools are saving workers time even though the tech could eventually threaten their jobs.
• Some workers hope that learning how to use AI on the job will set them apart down the line.
• Here's how five workers are using AI to save time now — and prepare themselves for an AI future.

Gabrielle Gerbus thinks AI technology could someday threaten her job, but that isn't stopping her from using it to make her work easier.

Gerbus, a 29-year-old freelance branding specialist based in California, said the AI tools Jasper and ChatGPT have helped draft her responses to clients — many of whom ask similar questions. She estimated that this saves her about four to five hours a week.

"I get sometimes 20 messages a day from clients," she said. "If I responded to all of these manually I would spend hours a day just responding to messages. With ChatGPT, I can plug in my tone and brand voice and cut that time down significantly."

However, Gerbus said she's concerned about the potential for AI tools to automate and replace some of the work she does, which she said primarily consists of copywriting and brand strategy. For now, she thinks she still has an edge over these tools, but she's already taken steps to prepare for the AI future — including seeking out gigs that involve editing AI-generated content.

"My backup plan is to adapt and pivot," she told Business Insider via email. "If ChatGPT replaces my writing work, I believe people will still need help with strategy, even if it's AI strategy."

While AI could help some workers become more productive, spend less time on boring tasks, and have a four-day workweek, others could face more competition, lower wages, or even see these technologies replace their jobs. A Goldman Sachs report published last year estimated that 300 million full-time jobs across the globe could be disrupted — not necessarily replaced — by AI in the coming years. For now, some companies have struggled to adopt AI, but the tech has already cost some workers their jobs.

Despite the potential downsides of AI adoption in the workplace, several workers told Business Insider that they're using AI tools to enhance their skill sets, productivity, and job performance. While they think there's a chance the tech could someday turn from friend to foe — and threaten their jobs — they're focused on bracing for change and trying to operate alongside the technology.

This tactic is an example of one way humans tend to respond to fear and uncertainty, Ben Granger, a chief workplace psychologist at the experience-management firm Qualtrics, told BI.

To be sure, some people may work for employers who restrict their use of AI, and AI tools have been known to sometimes produce inaccurate information. But if used correctly and cautiously, workers told BI that these tools can save them hours of time each week.

AI fears have led some people to embrace the technology

Granger said workers tend to respond to AI adoption in one of three ways — citing his research and conversations with clients in recent years.

Some workers are "proactively adopting" AI tools and trying to use them for their benefit, he said. Meanwhile, others are "very resistant" to using AI, view it as "concerning and scary" and want to avoid using it for as long as possible. The third group includes people who are intrigued by AI tools, perhaps have experimented with them in their personal time, but are slow to adopt them in the workplace: "They're still waiting to see what happens," Granger said.

In addition to concerns about AI job replacement, Granger said the overall uncertainty of the AI future can stress out some workers.

"Humans are just really bad at dealing with uncertainty," he said. "We avoid it. It causes a lot of psychological problems."

In response to AI uncertainty and job replacement fears, Granger said workers could respond in various ways to try to protect themselves. Some people could seek out a job they believe is less likely to be impacted by or vulnerable to AI adoption. Meanwhile, others could decide to embrace AI technology in the hopes that — if they can master it — they'll stay ahead of the curve, position themselves for new AI-related roles, and boost their job security.

Tricia LaRue, a Missouri-based marketing professional, is among the workers who have decided to embrace AI. She uses AI tools almost daily to help generate proposals, scripts, press releases, and social media content — and pays for the premium version of ChatGPT so she can upload spreadsheets and conduct data analysis to inform marketing strategy and campaigns.

"It's helped to increase my efficiency and speed immensely," she previously told Business Insider via email.

In the years ahead, LaRue said she thinks some marketing jobs could be threatened by AI technologies. Even if AI can't entirely automate some tasks, she said some smaller businesses could try to save money by cutting ties with outside marketing agencies and doing the work themselves.

However, she thinks marketing professionals who learn to use AI tools and provide their own expertise will continue to be desired.

"I don't think that we're at a point where AI can replace a competent team from a marketing agency," she said. "Those who utilize AI effectively and strategically will not be replaced."

Some workers are prepping for a future where AI skills are highly valued

Some workers told BI they're not just using AI to be more productive in the short term: They're preparing for a reality in which their jobs change, the use of AI becomes essential, and mastering the tech could be the key to ensuring their job security.

James Delage, a 28-year-old resource manager based in Minnesota, estimated that he saves between 15 and 20 hours a week using ChatGPT for "manual tasks," including writing emails, organizing project data, and drafting code. While he thinks some parts of his job could be automated in the future, he's optimistic that this would cause his job to change — rather than be eliminated.

"I don't feel it's a race against the clock before AI takes my job, but that AI is a tool that'll need an operator," he said.

Ankit Anchlia, a 36-year-old software engineer based in Texas, has a similar philosophy.

"I know AI-powered tools are continuously improving and can perform many of the same tasks that software engineers do, but I feel software engineers who can embrace AI and develop new skills will be in demand," he said.

To improve his AI skills, he said he uses ChatGPT and Claude to improve his code and identify potential bugs — he said this saves him between a few minutes to an hour depending on the task.

Mastering AI might not be the only way to protect oneself

While becoming an AI expert could help workers boost their job security, not everyone is counting on this approach to be successful.

Sainag Nethala, a 32-year-old technical account manager based in Illinois, uses ChatGPT, Claude, Grammarly, and Otter.ai to draft emails and reports, transcribe meetings, and proofread his writing. He estimated that these tools collectively save him about 10 to 15 hours a week.

While Nethala thinks increasing his productivity with AI could help boost his job security in the near term, he said he's also trying to develop other skills that are harder to automate.

"Things like reading between the lines with clients, coming up with creative solutions, and understanding the nuances of different business needs," he said. "I'm also always learning new technical skills to stay ahead of the curve."

Have you used AI tools to become more productive at work? Are you willing to share your story? If so, reach out to this reporter at jzinkula@businessinsider.com.