SAN FRANCISCO — A vast majority of American workers are ready to turn over the keys of their job search to artificial intelligence, even as most remain unaware that AI career tools can deliver biased advice, according to a national survey released Thursday.
The study, conducted by The Harris Poll in collaboration with career platform Ruth AI, found that 81% of U.S. adults would feel comfortable letting an AI agent manage at least one component of their job search. Among Millennials, that figure jumps to 90%.
Hands-Off Job Hunting
As AI tools rapidly transition from simple chatbots to autonomous agents, workers are increasingly willing to delegate critical steps in their career advancement:
- Searching for openings: 67%
- Pre-interview research: 67%
- Updating resumes: 65%
- Submitting job applications: 55%
- Negotiating benefits: 49%
- Negotiating salary: 47%
Overall, nearly half of Americans (45%) report having used AI platforms such as ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini for work-related or career guidance—a trend driven largely by younger generations, including 66% of Millennials and 63% of Gen Z respondents. Additionally, one in three adults has turned to AI for advice regarding workplace finances, including raises, bonuses, and salary negotiation strategies.
The Trust Gap: High Confidence, Low Awareness
Despite high adoption rates, the study highlighted a glaring knowledge gap regarding the software’s reliability.
Three out of four Americans (76%) had never heard that academic research has shown AI systems can produce biased salary and career recommendations. At the same time, 72% acknowledged that AI models frequently sound confident even when their advice is factually incorrect.
“Americans are handing AI some of the most consequential decisions of their working lives, from the job search to the salary ask, while most have never heard that the guidance can carry bias,” said Valerie Chapman, founder and CEO of Ruth AI. “We are delegating faster than we are asking questions. The responsibility now falls on the people building AI to earn the trust users are already giving it.”
Survey Methodology
The Harris Poll surveyed 2,131 U.S. adults online between June 11 and June 13, 2026. The representative sample included 420 Gen Z adults, 620 Millennials, 519 Gen X adults, and 572 Baby Boomers, weighted to match general population demographics.