AI is supposed to be our shiny new superpower, yet many people feel embarrassed using it. In this episode, Steve digs into the rise of “AI shame” at work, unpacking a Times of India report, “AI Shame Is a Real Phenomenon in the Workplace, Claims Report: What Is Scaring Top Execs in America.” The surprising part, executives and Gen Z appear to be hiding it most. According to the survey Steve cites, 53% of executives conceal their AI use, and 62% of Gen Z pass off AI-generated work as their own. Formal training is scarce too, roughly 6–7% for Gen Z and 17% for executives, which means most people are winging it. No wonder 65% of Gen Z say AI slows them down, and 68% feel pressure to overperform.
Steve connects this to earlier stigmas like online dating, then shifts the conversation to culture, identity, and how we define value when AI is always in the room. You’ll hear practical steps for leaders and teams, from setting norms on when and how AI can be used, to creating safe forums, to running low-stakes experiments that build confidence and transparency.
What you’ll take away:
• Why secrecy emerges when there is no playbook.
• How to talk about contribution and originality in an AI-assisted world.
• A simple starter plan for leaders and teams to make AI use normal, not taboo.
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