A recent LinkedIn survey reveals growing frustration among professionals, with 51% reporting that mandatory AI training feels like a second job, disrupting their core responsibilities and fueling burnout. Workers cite overly complex training modules, tight deadlines, and unclear practical benefits as major pain points.
The survey also notes an 82% surge in LinkedIn posts about feeling overwhelmed by workplace changes in 2025. A third of professionals (33%) feel embarrassed by their limited AI knowledge, while 35% are nervous about discussing AI at work, fearing they’ll sound uninformed. This reflects a broader anxiety about keeping up with rapid AI adoption.
Workplace Strain
As companies ramp up AI-focused upskilling to adapt to new tools, many employees feel more burdened than empowered. Trainings often extend work hours without extra pay or clear workflow improvements. Some employers are taking drastic measures: IgniteTech’s CEO Eric Vaughan told Fortune he cut nearly 80% of his staff for failing to engage with AI training, and Mindstone’s Joshua Wöhle shared how a client-CEO mandated all-day Friday AI retraining, urging non-compliant staff to leave.
Amid this pressure, professionals are turning to colleagues over AI tools or search engines for guidance. The survey found 43% rely on their network as their top source for workplace advice, with 64% saying colleagues help them make faster, more confident decisions.
AI’s Mixed Results
Frustration with training mirrors broader doubts about AI’s value. A 2025 MIT NANDA study found 95% of enterprise generative AI pilots failed to deliver measurable ROI, with most stalling in testing or abandoned due to poor integration and low AI literacy. Large companies often take a year to scale projects that rarely succeed, amplifying skepticism.
Wall Street is also wary. Investors, spooked by the gap between AI hype and results, are trimming tech stock exposure, fearing a bubble reminiscent of past tech crashes. Nvidia’s recent earnings, despite record revenue, saw its stock dip, reflecting market jitters.
Connecting the Dots
The push for AI transformation is straining workers, not yet delivering the promised productivity boost. With over half of professionals overwhelmed by training demands and MIT’s findings showing minimal AI payoff, companies may need to rethink their approach. Simplifying training, clarifying benefits, and aligning upskilling with practical outcomes could ease tensions and better support employees navigating this tech-driven shift.