A new survey from AI resume builder Resume Now® suggests a fascinating, and perhaps surprising, trend: many U.S. workers are ready to embrace an AI-powered future of leadership. The RoboBossing Report, which surveyed over 900 American workers, reveals that a striking 66% believe AI-led management could improve the workplace by making it more fair and efficient.
The findings suggest that for many, AI is not a threat, but a potential solution to the human biases, inconsistencies, and subjective decisions that can plague traditional management. However, while workers see AI as a powerful tool for data-driven tasks like performance management and budgeting, they also draw a clear line in the sand, emphasizing that emotional intelligence, ethical judgment, and interpersonal skills will always be the exclusive domain of human leaders.
KEY FINDINGS
- 66% say AI leadership would make the workplace more fair and efficient
- 73% support AI having a say in major company decisions like hiring, layoffs, and budgeting
- 55% believe AI could make better promotion decisions than humans
- 64% say motivating teams is something only humans can do well
- 57% say only humans can truly empathize and understand emotions
- 34% would prefer to report to an AI manager, but 62% still prefer a human
- 85% say more AI transparency would increase their trust in their employer
- 39% worry about surveillance or data misuse from AI bosses
Where Workers Trust AI Most: Logic, Fairness, and Efficiency
AI earns high marks for tasks that benefit from objectivity and data consistency:
- 66% say AI leadership would make the workplace more fair and efficient
- 73% support AI having a say in major company decisions like hiring, layoffs, and budgeting
- 55% believe AI could make better promotion decisions than humans
- 54% trust AI to give unbiased feedback
- 54% believe AI can set fair performance goals
- 44% trust AI to manage projects efficiently
What AI Can’t Replace: Emotion, Empathy, and Human Connection
While workers are open to AI managers, many still believe that certain leadership qualities are uniquely human:
- 64% say motivating teams is something only humans can do well
- 57% say only humans can truly empathize and understand emotions
- 53% believe only humans can make tough or morally complex decisions
- 37% are concerned about AI’s lack of empathy
- 29% worry AI leadership will make the workplace more impersonal and stressful
- Only 19% trust AI with resolving team conflicts
These findings highlight a desire for balance; a blend of AI’s precision and human leaders’ emotional intelligence.
The Rise of AI Managers: Comfort with Caveats
Attitudes toward AI as a direct manager reflect cautious optimism:
- 1 in 3 workers (34%) would rather report to an AI manager than a human manager
- 62% would still prefer a human manager when given the choice
- Only 5% expect no real change from AI leadership, indicating most anticipate a noticeable impact
- 28% say AI might outperform humans in some areas
Workers seem open to AI playing a leadership role, but not replacing human leaders entirely.
Surveillance and Trust: Transparency Is Key
AI monitoring is already commonplace, but worker sentiment depends on its perceived purpose:
- 94% say their current job involves some form of AI monitoring
- 69% are fine with it when it supports productivity
- 85% say more AI transparency would actually increase their trust in their employer
- 39% worry about surveillance or data misuse
This shows that fairness and transparency, not control, shape how AI oversight is received.
A Smarter, Fairer Future—With Limits
The data makes one thing clear: AI is gaining ground as a trusted tool in leadership, particularly in roles that benefit from speed, structure, and logic. But when it comes to emotion, ethics, and connection, workers still want humans at the helm.
“Employees aren’t rejecting AI. They are asking for balance,” said Keith Spencer, career expert at Resume Now. “They trust AI to bring efficiency and fairness to the systems side of leadership. But leadership is also about inspiration, listening, and trust. That’s why RoboBossing may work in some areas, but people still want a human leader in the loop.”
To view the full report with more information, please visit https://www.resume-now.com/job-resources/careers/robobossing-report