Are image concerns holding back AI Adoption?

How would you feel if you knew this post was written by AI? Would that feeling change how you used AI yourself? Put differently: would knowing others might judge you for using AI make you hide it?

We're watching "thinkfluencers" make deliberate typos to prove they're human. People are frantically removing em dashes (== "—") from their writing (apparently OpenAI finally found a fix for that tell). 

It’s amusing BUT what we see online is only the surface ripple of a much larger shift at work. 

Image concerns are the hidden barrier to AI adoption in the workplace.

Fascinating new research from David Almog at Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management shows: When workers knew their AI usage was visible to HR evaluators, they used AI 14% less, even though it dropped their performance by 3.4%. They were literally willing to be wrong just to avoid looking like they lacked "confidence in their own judgment."

Even more telling: 1 in 4 successful human-AI collaborations disappeared the moment AI use became visible.

This makes me think: Did clerks in the past hide their use of typewriters, worried the boss would think they couldn't write with a proper pen? Did accountants secretly use calculators under their desks, afraid colleagues would question their math skills?

Probably not. Because those tools didn't "think." A typewriter didn't "create." AI does both. AND that changes everything about how we're perceived when we use it.

The path forward isn't better algorithms. It's better leadership.

If leaders want AI gains, they need to stop making people feel like they need to hide. Reward outcomes, not optics. Make AI fluency something to celebrate, not conceal.

Because right now? Your best performers might be what Ethan Mollick (author of the book Co-Intelligence) calls "Secret Cyborgs" and they're sacrificing results to protect their reputation.

The ideas in this post? They came from watching leaders I admire hesitate before admitting they use AI. From conversations that happen off the record. From what remains unsaid in meetings. 

And this is the part AI cannot supply.

Yes, AI can help us articulate ideas BUT as Dharmesh Shah reminded us at HubSpot's INBOUND 2025 == AI has no lived experience. It doesn't know the weight of silence in a room after a difficult decision. It's never rebuilt trust after a tough miss. 

That's the human moat. 

AI can help us be more articulate, faster, sharper but your judgment, your observations, YOUR lived experience? 

That's what actually moves the needle.

— Ram Srinivasan MIT Alum | Author, The Conscious Machine | Global AI Adoption Leader.

Published in Business Insider, Fortune, Harvard Business Review, MIT Executive Viewpoints and more.

—

A Message From Ram:

My mission is to illuminate the path toward humanity's exponential future. If you're a leader, innovator, or changemaker passionate about leveraging breakthrough technologies to create unprecedented positive impact, you're in the right place. If you know others who share this vision, please share these insights. Together, we can accelerate the trajectory of human progress.

Disclaimer:

Ram Srinivasan currently serves as an Innovation Strategist and Transformation Leader, authoring groundbreaking works including "The Conscious Machine" and the upcoming "The Exponential Human."

All views expressed on "Explained Weekly," the "ConvergeX Podcast," and across all digital channels and social media platforms are strictly personal opinions and do not represent the official positions of any organizations or entities I am affiliated with, past or present. The content shared is for informational and inspirational purposes only. These perspectives are my own and should not be construed as professional, legal, financial, technical, or strategic advice. Any decisions made based on this information are solely the responsibility of the reader.

While I strive to ensure accuracy and timeliness in all communications, the rapid pace of technological change means that some information may become outdated. I encourage readers to conduct their own due diligence and seek appropriate professional advice for their specific circumstances.