Which Jobs Are Using AI the Most? New Gallup Data Offer Answers

AI is no longer just a buzzword at work. But who’s really using it, and how often? New survey data provide a clearer picture and show a growing divide across jobs and industries.

More American workers are now using artificial intelligence on the job, according to new data from Gallup. In the third quarter of 2025, 45% of US employees said they used AI at work at least a few times a year, up from earlier levels.

Regular use is also rising. About 23% of workers said they use AI a few times a week or more, while daily use remains limited to around 10% of the workforce. That shows AI is spreading… but for many employees, it is still an occasional tool rather than a constant one.

Gallup’s findings are based on a nationally representative survey of 23,068 full- and part-time US workers, conducted between Aug. 5 and Aug. 19, 2025.

Knowledge-based jobs lead AI adoption

AI use is far more common in office-based and knowledge-heavy roles than in frontline work.

Gallup found that technology and information systems jobs top the list, with 76% of workers in the field using AI at least a few times a year. Finance and professional services also show strong adoption, at 58% and 57%, respectively.

More frequent use follows a similar pattern. Roughly half of tech workers, and about one-third of finance and professional services employees, said they use AI at least a few times per week.

Frontline industries lag behind

AI use is much lower in sectors that rely on physical or in-person work. Only 33% of retail workers, 37% of healthcare employees, and 38% of manufacturing workers reported using AI at work at least a few times a year. Weekly use in these industries is even lower.

These roles often involve hands-on tasks that leave fewer chances to integrate chatbots, writing tools, or analytics software into daily routines.

Managers and leaders use AI more often

Gallup’s data also show that seniority matters.

Managers and company leaders are more likely to use AI frequently than individual contributors. In the third quarter of 2025, 37% of employees said their company had implemented AI to improve productivity or quality. But 40% said their organization had not, and 23% said they didn’t know.

Uncertainty was highest among individual contributors. About 26% of individual contributors said they did not know whether their organization had officially adopted AI, compared with 16% of managers and just 7% of leaders. Gallup says this suggests many workers are using AI tools on their own, without clear guidance or visibility into company strategy.

What workers are actually using AI for

Among employees who use AI, the most common tasks are practical rather than complex. Gallup found that workers mainly use AI to:

Consolidate information or data (42%)

Generate ideas (41%)

Learn new things (36%)

Automate basic tasks (34%)

More advanced uses, such as making predictions or operating complex equipment, remain uncommon.

When it comes to tools, chatbots and virtual assistants are the clear favorite, used by 61% of workplace AI users. Writing and editing tools follow at 36%, while coding assistants are used by 14%.

Gallup notes that employees who use AI frequently are much more likely to rely on advanced tools like coding assistants and data analytics software, even though these remain niche overall.

Growth is real, but not universal

AI is becoming a regular part of work life for many Americans, but it is not evenly spread. Usage is concentrated in knowledge-based roles, driven by tools that help people write, research, and organize information.

Gallup’s findings suggest that broader adoption depends less on access to technology and more on clear leadership, support, and communication. Without that, AI use is likely to stay uneven, powerful in some roles, and barely visible in others.

Looking to break into AI? An exclusive eWeek analysis explores which entry-level AI jobs are growing fastest and what skills employers are actually hiring for right now.
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