LinkedIn study: 33% of professionals feel embarrassed, stressed by their AI knowledge gaps

A third of professionals feel embarrassed by their lack of AI knowledge, according to new LinkedIn research that tracked workplace conversations over a 12-month period. The study reveals that AI’s rapid pace is overwhelming workers, with 41% reporting it’s negatively impacting their well-being and more than half saying that learning AI feels like a second job.

What you should know: Workers are struggling to keep up with AI developments despite recognizing its importance for career advancement.

• 33% of professionals admitted feeling embarrassed about how little they understand AI.
• 35% feel nervous about discussing AI at work due to their knowledge gaps.
• Younger professionals are twice as likely as older colleagues to lie about their AI skills.

The big picture: AI’s breakneck evolution is creating workplace anxiety rather than the promised productivity gains, with professionals caught between the need to upskill and the overwhelming pace of change.

• LinkedIn monitored conversations containing words like “overwhelm,” “burn out,” and “navigating change” from July 2024 through June 2025.
• The research found AI is “fueling insecurity among professionals at work” as they struggle to demonstrate competence in an unfamiliar technology.

Why this matters: Studies show that “AI capital”—experience with artificial intelligence—directly impacts job prospects and earning potential.

• University graduates with AI experience received more job interview invitations than those without it, according to Oxford Economics.
• Graduates with AI capital were also offered higher wages than their peers without such experience.

The learning gap: Despite AI’s importance, professionals find the learning curve steep and time-consuming.

• More than half of professionals say learning about AI feels like another job in itself.
• 41% report that AI’s current pace is impacting their well-being.
• The pressure to upskill is driving workplace stress rather than empowerment.

Available solutions: Major tech companies are offering accessible AI training options for overwhelmed professionals.

• Google, Microsoft, IBM, and Amazon Web Services provide affordable and sometimes free AI training courses.
• These programs cover IT skills, prompt engineering for AI models, and coding introductions through platforms like GitHub.
• The courses aim to bridge the knowledge gap that’s creating workplace anxiety.