For Gen Z and Millennial workers, using AI at work has become second nature. CPA Practice Advisor reports that whether it’s drafting emails, summarizing meetings, or writing code, they’re turning to tools like ChatGPT to boost productivity and move faster. But they’re not always telling employers. 

According to a new Cox Business survey, nearly half of Gen Z and Millennial employees are hesitant to share how much their work involves AI, largely because they fear it could put their jobs at risk. Because 47 percent of employees worry that AI could eventually replace them, and they often experience unclear company policies, a lot of AI use happens in the dark.

And this doesn’t just apply to AI. The report also found that 63 percent of employees across generations are using personal apps or software for work, which raises serious questions about security and compliance. Meanwhile 70 percent of younger workers say they feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of tech tools at their jobs. Many say the tools their companies provide are slower and harder to use than the ones they choose on their own. 

Despite this, only 16 percent of Gen Z and Millennial employees feel they have any real say in the technology their companies adopt. 

The disconnect between how younger employees use technology and how companies oversee it is getting wider. Jeff Breaux, executive vice president and chief commercial officer for Cox Communications, points out that  companies and their IT teams have an opportunity to “enhance their strategies around tech investment, rollouts, training, and policies.”