Workers across industries are embracing AI tools like ChatGPT, Jasper, and Claude to dramatically boost their productivity, despite concerns that these same technologies could eventually threaten their jobs. The trend reveals a pragmatic approach to AI adoption, with professionals saving between 4 to 20 hours per week on routine tasks.
Gabrielle Gerbus, a 29-year-old freelance branding specialist in California, uses Jasper and ChatGPT to draft client responses, saving her approximately 4-5 hours weekly. With up to 20 client messages daily, she leverages AI to maintain her brand voice while dramatically reducing response time. However, Gerbus acknowledges the double-edged nature of AI, expressing concern that the technology could eventually automate her copywriting and brand strategy work. Her solution? Pivoting toward AI strategy consulting and editing AI-generated content.
The workplace AI revolution is creating three distinct worker categories, according to Ben Granger, chief workplace psychologist at Qualtrics. Some workers proactively adopt AI tools for competitive advantage, others resist the technology due to fear and uncertainty, while a third group experiments cautiously, waiting to see how AI adoption unfolds. This hesitation stems from humanity’s struggle with uncertainty, which Granger notes “causes a lot of psychological problems.”
Marketing professional Tricia LaRue exemplifies the proactive approach, using ChatGPT’s premium version daily for proposals, scripts, press releases, and data analysis. She believes that while AI may threaten some marketing positions, professionals who “utilize AI effectively and strategically will not be replaced.” Her investment in AI mastery reflects a broader strategy of staying ahead of technological disruption.
Software engineer Ankit Anchlia and resource manager James Delage both save 15-20 hours weekly using ChatGPT for manual tasks including email writing, code drafting, and project organization. Rather than viewing AI as a job threat, they see it as a tool requiring skilled operators. Delage emphasizes he doesn’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.”
A Goldman Sachs report estimated 300 million full-time jobs globally could be disrupted by AI, though not necessarily replaced. While some companies struggle with AI adoption and job losses have occurred, workers are responding by developing complementary skills that are harder to automate—including client relationship management, creative problem-solving, and understanding business nuances. The strategy represents a pragmatic middle ground between AI resistance and blind technological optimism.
Key Quotes
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.
Gabrielle Gerbus, a freelance branding specialist, explains how ChatGPT helps her manage up to 20 daily client messages while maintaining her personal brand voice, demonstrating AI’s practical application in client communication.
My backup plan is to adapt and pivot. If ChatGPT replaces my writing work, I believe people will still need help with strategy, even if it’s AI strategy.
Gerbus reveals her pragmatic approach to AI disruption, positioning herself to transition from content creation to AI strategy consulting—a shift that exemplifies how workers are preparing for AI-transformed job markets.
Humans are just really bad at dealing with uncertainty. We avoid it. It causes a lot of psychological problems.
Ben Granger, chief workplace psychologist at Qualtrics, identifies the core psychological challenge driving worker anxiety about AI adoption, explaining why some employees resist the technology despite its productivity benefits.
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.
James Delage, a resource manager who saves 15-20 hours weekly using ChatGPT, articulates an optimistic perspective that positions AI as an augmentation tool rather than a replacement threat, reflecting a mindset that may define successful AI-era workers.
Our Take
This article reveals a fascinating paradox: workers are enthusiastically adopting the very technology they fear may eliminate their jobs. This seemingly contradictory behavior actually represents sophisticated risk management—by mastering AI tools now, these professionals are betting they can remain indispensable as AI operators and strategists rather than becoming obsolete.
The 15-20 hour weekly time savings reported by multiple workers is staggering, suggesting AI’s productivity impact may exceed even optimistic projections. However, the real story is the strategic repositioning these workers are undertaking—moving from task execution to AI oversight, from content creation to strategy development, and from manual work to creative problem-solving.
The three-category worker framework should concern business leaders: resistance and hesitation represent lost productivity and competitive disadvantage. Organizations that fail to address AI anxiety while providing training and clear career pathways risk losing talent to more forward-thinking competitors. The future belongs to companies that can transform their entire workforce into the “proactive adopter” category.
Why This Matters
This story captures a pivotal moment in the AI transformation of work, revealing how employees are navigating the tension between productivity gains and job security concerns. The 4-20 hour weekly time savings reported by workers demonstrates AI’s immediate practical value, while their simultaneous anxiety about job displacement highlights the technology’s disruptive potential.
The three-category worker response framework provides crucial insights for businesses implementing AI strategies. Companies must address the psychological burden of uncertainty while helping resistant employees transition to productive AI use. The proactive adopters profiled here represent a blueprint for workforce adaptation—they’re not just using AI tools, but repositioning themselves for an AI-augmented future by developing complementary human skills.
The Goldman Sachs estimate of 300 million jobs potentially disrupted underscores the scale of coming workplace transformation. However, these workers’ experiences suggest a nuanced reality: AI may reshape rather than eliminate roles, creating demand for AI operators, strategists, and editors. This shift from automation anxiety to strategic adaptation could define competitive advantage in the AI era, making AI literacy as fundamental as computer skills became in previous decades.
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Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/how-use-ai-save-time-work-best-ways-use-chatgpt-2024-9