Imagine asking your colleagues whether they feel safe in their jobs. Now imagine that seven out of ten of them say they are not sure they will still be doing the same work in ten years. That is roughly what a recent nationwide survey in Ireland found when it asked workers about artificial intelligence and automation.
The result is striking. And it raises a question worth exploring honestly: are workers right to be worried, or is the fear outpacing the reality?
What the Survey Found
According to a survey reported by the Offaly Independent in August 2026, just 30% of Irish workers believe their job is safe from AI or automation over the next ten years. That means the majority — seven in ten — are either uncertain or actively concerned.
This is not a niche feeling shared only by workers in specific industries. The anxiety appears to be widespread across different types of jobs, including office roles, administrative work, and professional services.
It is worth noting that this is one survey, in one country, at one point in time. It reflects sentiment rather than certainty. Still, it gives a useful window into how people are feeling right now.
Why Do Workers Feel This Way?
The honest answer is that AI tools are becoming visibly capable in ways that were not true just a few years ago. People can now watch AI write emails, summarise documents, analyse data, and answer complex questions in seconds. For anyone whose job involves those kinds of tasks, that can feel unsettling.
There is also a lot of noise in the conversation. Headlines tend to emphasise disruption. Social media amplifies anxiety. And because AI is developing quickly, it is genuinely difficult — even for experts — to say with confidence exactly how much will change, and how fast.
One way to look at it is that uncertainty itself is part of what is driving the fear. When people do not know what to expect, they tend to imagine the worst.
What Experts Are Saying
Interestingly, some of the people closest to AI development are pushing back against the idea that AI should replace human thinking entirely.
Emma Redmond, head of OpenAI Ireland, was recently reported as saying that AI should not replace human judgement. That perspective from inside one of the world’s leading AI organisations is worth paying attention to. It suggests that even those building these tools see clear limits on what AI should be trusted to do alone.
It is interesting that this message — AI as a tool, not a replacement — is coming from within the AI industry itself, not just from critics on the outside.
What Is Changing, and What Is Not
There is a meaningful difference between a job being eliminated and a job being changed. History suggests that technology tends to shift what people do, rather than simply removing the need for people altogether.
A payroll professional, for example, may spend less time on manual data entry as automation handles routine calculations. But questions of compliance, judgement calls, exceptions, and employee communication still require a human. The role changes shape. It does not necessarily disappear.
That said, it would be dishonest to pretend there are no risks. Some types of repetitive, rules-based tasks are genuinely well-suited to automation. Workers whose roles consist almost entirely of those tasks face a different situation than those whose work involves relationships, judgement, or creative problem-solving.
Regulation Is Starting to Catch Up
One development that often gets less attention in public discussions is the growing regulatory focus on AI. Financial regulators have recently been setting out expectations for how AI should be used responsibly in business settings. The core message is that AI systems need to be managed, monitored, and kept within clear boundaries.
This is a sign that AI is being treated more seriously as a business risk — not just as an exciting technology. It also suggests that the idea of AI simply running unchecked through industries is less likely than some headlines imply. Governance frameworks take time to develop, but they are clearly in motion.
Reader Questions (FAQ)
Is AI actually going to take people’s jobs?
Some tasks within jobs are likely to become automated. Whether that means whole jobs disappear depends on the role and the industry. The picture is more complex than a simple yes or no.
Why are so many workers worried if experts say AI has limits?
Fear and facts do not always move at the same speed. AI is visibly changing things right now, and that is enough to create genuine uncertainty, even if the full picture is more nuanced.
Are some jobs safer than others?
Roles that involve complex human judgement, relationship management, and adaptability tend to be discussed as more resilient. Roles that are heavily repetitive and rules-based are often seen as more exposed. But this is a general observation, not a guarantee.
Why is an AI company saying AI should not replace humans?
It seems likely that organisations building AI tools understand both the capabilities and the limitations of those tools better than anyone. Acknowledging limits may also reflect an awareness of public trust and the importance of responsible deployment.
What are regulators doing about AI in the workplace?
Financial regulators and other bodies are beginning to publish guidance and expectations around AI risk management. This is an emerging area, and frameworks are still being developed in most countries.
Is the fear of AI new?
Concerns about technology replacing workers are not new. Similar conversations happened with the introduction of computers, the internet, and industrial automation. Each wave brought change, but also created new types of work alongside the disruption.
How quickly could this all change?
That is genuinely difficult to say. AI development has surprised people with its pace. Whether workplace transformation follows at the same speed is harder to predict.
Should workers be learning new skills?
Many people in the discussion suggest that adaptability matters. Whether or not individuals act on that is a personal decision, shaped by their own circumstances and priorities.
Is Ireland unusual in these findings?
Similar surveys in other countries have found comparable levels of concern. It seems likely that this anxiety is not specific to one country.
Does this affect HR and payroll professionals specifically?
HR and payroll are areas where automation is already present in many organisations, handling routine processing tasks. Whether that creates concern or opportunity tends to depend on how individuals and organisations approach it.
Closing Thoughts
The fact that seven in ten workers feel uncertain about AI and their jobs is significant — not necessarily because the worst-case scenarios are inevitable, but because that level of anxiety has real effects on how people feel at work, how they plan their careers, and how they engage with new tools.
In my view, one of the more underappreciated aspects of this conversation is the gap between what AI can technically do and what organisations will actually choose to do with it. Technology and human decisions about technology are two different things.
It will be interesting to see whether growing regulation, more visible leadership from within the AI industry, and clearer real-world examples help to close the gap between fear and understanding over the next few years. Or whether the pace of change continues to outrun people’s ability to make sense of it.
How do you see AI changing your workplace? Have you noticed a shift in how your colleagues talk about their roles? Share your perspective in the comments below.
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