Writer survey: 44% of Gen Z sabotage AI, 60% of firms plan layoffs

A new survey from Writer.com paints a troubling picture of AI adoption in the enterprise. It found that 60% of companies plan to lay off employees who can't or won't use AI, while 77% say AI-resistant workers won't be considered for promotions or leadership roles. The C-suite is actively cultivating an "AI elite": 92% are nurturing super-users, and 87% say those employees are at least five times more productive. This divide is creating deep internal tension, with 54% of respondents saying AI is tearing their company apart.

Despite the hype, ROI remains elusive. While 97% of executives say AI has been beneficial, only 29% report significant return on investment from generative AI, and 48% say adoption has been a massive disappointment. The most alarming finding is sabotage: 29% of all employees—including 44% of Gen Z—admit to actively undermining their company's AI strategy. This generational resistance, combined with layoff threats and lackluster returns, suggests many organizations are rushing AI adoption without addressing cultural and strategic alignment.