Left in the dark | If leaders want staff to embrace AI, they need to explain their plans better

Headlines like “AI is coming for your jobs” are always going to grab attention. They're also the reason why 85% of British workers now believe it’s true, according to new research by HR platform HiBob. But that figure doesn’t match the reality.

The same data shows that AI isn’t wiping out entry-level jobs, but reshaping them. HR leaders say it’s reducing admin, enhancing training, and creating opportunities for graduates to move into more advanced roles earlier. So why the disconnect? Why do so many people still feel threatened?

The answer may lie not in the tech itself, but in the lack of communication around it.

It’s not AI that’s making people nervous, it’s being left in the dark

AI might be transforming the nature of work, but when you leave people in the dark about what that actually means for them, fear fills the gap. It’s not hard to see why workers are uneasy. High-profile employers like the Big Four have cut graduate roles while ramping up investment in AI. That’s a big sign that’s hard to ignore and harder to interpret without clear context from leadership.