Using AI tools like ChatGPT at work may harm your reputation, study finds

A new study from Duke University reveals a hidden downside to using AI at work: it might quietly hurt your professional reputation.

Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the study shows that employees who rely on AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini are often seen by their peers and managers as lazy, less competent, and less independent—even when the AI boosts productivity.

Researchers Jessica Reif, Richard Larrick, and Jack Soll from Duke’s Fuqua School of Business conducted four large-scale experiments involving over 4,400 participants.

The results showed a consistent “social evaluation penalty” tied to AI use in the workplace.

“Although AI can enhance productivity, its use carries social costs,” the authors wrote.

In one experiment, participants who imagined using AI at work believed they would be judged more harshly than those using traditional tools.

In another, participants evaluating employee profiles viewed AI users as less hireable and more replaceable—especially if the evaluator didn’t use AI themselves.

That bias, the study found, wasn’t limited by age, gender, or job title. Negative judgments cut across all demographics.

And this perception had real consequences: managers unfamiliar with AI were less likely to hire candidates who used it regularly.

However, there was one major exception—when AI use was clearly tied to the job's needs, the reputational hit softened. In other words, context matters.

Interestingly, people who used AI tools often were less likely to judge others harshly, suggesting familiarity may reduce bias.

But the fear of stigma runs deep. Many employees hide their use of AI tools from their bosses, earning them the nickname “secret cyborgs,” a term coined by Wharton professor Ethan Mollick.

The study underscores a tricky balancing act.

While AI promises productivity gains, employees may be quietly penalized for embracing it. And as AI adoption accelerates, this reputational dilemma may become a central issue in future workplace dynamics.

In other words: AI might help you work smarter—but it could still make you look worse.