Employers Push AI for Benefits, but Workers Remain Skeptical

A significant gap has emerged between employers' enthusiasm for artificial intelligence and workers' willingness to embrace it, particularly when it comes to navigating workplace benefits.

According to Prudential's 2026 Benefits & Beyond Study, 79% of employers want to deploy AI tools to help employees better understand their benefits packages. Yet only slightly more than half of workers expressed interest in using such technology, and just 24% currently use AI in any workplace capacity.

The trust deficit

The disconnect stems from multiple concerns. Employees are twice as likely as companies to say they simply don't trust AI—25% versus 12%, respectively. Privacy concerns compound the issue, with workers questioning how their personal data will be handled and protected.

Beyond technical worries, social stigma plays a substantial role. Research from Duke Fuqua School of Business found that employees perceive colleagues who use AI as "less competent and lazier." This perception creates a chilling effect where workers hide their AI usage even when it benefits the organization.

"People anticipate being judged harshly for using AI," said Jessica A. Reif, a professor at Duke Fuqua School of Business. "This creates a situation where employees might hide their AI, even when that AI use is beneficial for the organization."

A Pew Research Center report reinforces these anxieties: 52% of workers worry about AI's future workplace impact, and 32% believe it will disrupt job opportunities.

Why it matters

Benefits enrollment and management represent one of the most complex decisions employees face, yet the tools meant to simplify that process are meeting resistance. Without employee buy-in, companies risk investing in AI systems that go unused, while workers continue struggling with benefits decisions that significantly impact their financial wellbeing and healthcare access.

The path forward

While 71% of employers view AI positively, only 51% of employees share that sentiment. Bridging this gap requires more than technology deployment—it demands deliberate trust-building.

"AI can make benefits simpler, more personalized and easier to use, but employees won't embrace it unless they trust it," said Michael Estep, president of Prudential Group Insurance. "That means helping people understand how these tools work, how their data is protected, and how AI can strengthen the human support they still want and need."

Adoption patterns vary by workforce segment. Unionized employees show higher usage rates at 40%, compared to 27% among salaried workers and sole decision-makers.

Scott Roth, vice president and chief technology officer at Prudential Group Insurance, emphasized that transparency is essential. "Many employees still struggle to navigate their benefits options. AI can help simplify that, but they need confidence in the guidance they receive and how their information is handled."

Companies looking to close the adoption gap will need clear communication strategies and hands-on education programs that demonstrate both the practical value and security safeguards of AI tools.

These findings were first reported by 401(k) Specialist Magazine, drawing on Prudential's 2026 Benefits & Beyond Study.