NZ workers slow to adopt AI, but many hide how much they use it - report

Wed, 8th Jul 2026 (Today)

New Zealand has a relatively low rate of AI adoption, with more than a third of workers feeling guilty about using it, according to new research.

A global report by Employment Hero indicates New Zealand businesses had a comparatively low rate of AI adoption, compared with the UK, Australia and Canada.

While New Zealand workers were increasingly upskilling and relying on AI at work, the research indicated many were hiding how much they use it.

"Workers with the most AI competence are the most conflicted," Employment Hero general manager New Zealand Neil Webster said.

"They know what it can do for them, but are anxious about the impact it might have on their role and their livelihood.

"One key stat found 37 percent of Kiwi workers feel guilty using AI at work despite recognising it helps them produce better work and develop valuable skills."

He said employers could help to combat AI guilt by creating positive environments for adoption of the technology.

"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," Webster said.

"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."

Key points:

38 percent of employees say using AI feels like cheating
37 percent feel a sense of guilt when using AI to produce high-quality work, the lowest of any market surveyed
42 percent worry using AI makes them look replaceable
More than half of Kiwi workers (51 percent) have taught themselves AI skills through platforms like YouTube and TikTok
57 percent say AI is helping them develop more valuable skills.
Just under a third (32 percent) present AI-generated work as their own
28 percent use AI tools without their company knowing

AI adoption picking up speed

University of Auckland thematic lead for artificial intelligence Dr Guy Bate said the adoption of AI in the workplace may be rising faster than thought.

He said what mattered was the capacity to combine human judgement with AI in ways that improved the quality of work and decision-making while retaining human responsibility.

The research also challenged an assumption that AI and job creation were in opposition.

Nearly one in five New Zealand business leaders (18 percent) say AI will create new roles, with a further 50 percent saying existing roles would be re-focused, meaning around two-thirds expected some form of positive or transformative workforce change rather than outright cuts.

Job creation sentiment outweighed job loss sentiment by more than two-to-one, as just 19 percent of businesses thought their workforce would look the same in 12 months' time.

Businesses with advanced AI integration were also nearly twice as likely to describe themselves as "thriving," reinforcing that AI maturity tended to track with growth rather than contraction.

Webster says the findings should give businesses confidence to lean into AI rather than hold back.

"The global data shows us that businesses that are investing in AI are significantly more likely to be thriving," Webster said.

Still, just about a third (34 percent) of Kiwi employers believed AI was helping to drive more innovation in their businesses compared with more than half in the UK (55 percent) and Australia (45 percent).

Only 15 percent of New Zealand businesses said AI was core to their business operations compared with about a quarter (24 percent) in the UK.

"In New Zealand we can close the gap by businesses and their teams being bold and driving change rather than responding to AI advancements as they happen," Webster said.

"In terms of how AI supports productivity, Kiwi businesses are on a par with Australia and other countries. But when it comes to AI improving quality of work, driving cost savings, and supporting employee confidence, we are trailing."

This story was first published on rnz.co.nz