Two-thirds of workers nostalgic for pre-AI workplace, research finds

Nearly two-thirds of knowledge workers feel nostalgic for how work operated before generative artificial intelligence (AI), with more than a third saying they would remove the technology altogether, according to research from Adaptavist.

The survey of 2,500 professionals across the UK, US, Canada, Germany and Spain found that 65% regularly feel nostalgic for the pre-AI workplace, while 30% said they preferred how work operated before generative AI became widely used.

Overall, 38% said they would remove generative AI tools from the world if they had the chance.

The findings also suggested that many employees believe AI is creating additional work rather than improving productivity.

More than two in five (42%) said they spend longer verifying AI-generated content than the time they save using it, while 49% said poor-quality AI output is slowing down projects and 55% believe it is reducing overall team efficiency.

Almost half (46%) said dealing with low-quality AI-generated content makes their work feel less meaningful and more repetitive, while 37% said it has made them less engaged at work.

The research found younger workers were more likely to want generative AI removed, with 40% of both Gen Z and Millennials saying they would get rid of the technology, compared with 32% of Gen X and 29% of Baby Boomers.

Despite these concerns, attitudes towards workplace AI remain broadly positive.