ORLANDO, Fla. — The United States government posted strong job numbers for January, with 130,000 jobs created. But economists say the U.S. economy lost 1,000 jobs during the last six months of 2025, and they expect hiring to be slow for most of 2026.
What You Need To Know
A recent Gallup Poll shows 12% of Americans say they use AI every day at work, and 46% say a few times per year
Tech experts say AI technology is rapidly improving and we should use it to remain competitive in the workplace
The World Economic Forum says AI will help transform about 1 billion jobs over the next decade
A new Gallup poll finds 12% of Americans say they use artificial intelligence at work every day, and 46% say they use it at least a few times a year.
Tech experts say now is the time to use AI in your job so you don’t get left behind.
“Let me know if you need a skeptical AI partner in your corner,” says Clay Dudley, a digital marketer and founder of ToNow IQ.
Dudley created an artificial intelligence operating system he calls Tia.
“It’s like having a 24/7 assistant, automating follow-ups, predicting customer needs and personalizing outreach at scale,” Dudley says.
Dudley uses AI to answer questions, schedule meetings and conduct market research.
“I use it for the pros and cons and to pressure-test some of my ideas that I do have for my clients,” Dudley says.
Since he started using AI at work two years ago, Dudley says he is much more efficient on the job.
Dudley is not alone. The Associated Press says workers in the technology, finance, higher education, professional services and public education sectors are most likely to use artificial intelligence at work. They use it to help write emails and computer code, summarize long documents, consolidate data, create images and generate ideas.
Chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok and DeepSeek are some of the leading programs professionals are putting to work.
David Dunn, founder of Infiniti Technology Consulting in Florida, says, “I think about the quote from the Nvidia CEO that said AI is not replacing people. It’s replacing people who aren’t using AI”
Dunn says workers can start using AI to write detailed emails and create images for reports. He uses a virtual receptionist to screen calls, answer potential customers’ questions and book appointments, and he says now is the time to work AI into your workflows.
Dudley says he always double-checks to make sure he isn’t taking the human element out of what he creates, but he’ll keep leveraging AI’s evolving technology.
“It’s best for you to be in it because you can’t stop it,” he says. “It’s already here, so you might as well utilize it to make your life better.”
Studies show this year, bosses will start to manage employee strategies and AI strategies together, and AI will also change hiring and onboarding practices when workers join companies.
The World Economic Forum estimates AI will help transform more than 1 billion jobs in the next decade, and the technology will affect the vast majority of businesses by 2030.