The Trust Gap

A national Harris Poll conducted with Ruth AI found that 45% of Americans have used AI tools for career or work-related advice, rising to 66% of Millennials and 63% of Gen Z. The study also found that 81% would allow an AI agent to handle at least one part of their job search, including searching for jobs, researching employers, updating résumés and even applying for positions. At the same time, 76% were unaware AI can produce biased career guidance, highlighting an important gap between adoption and understanding.

The rapid adoption of AI for career planning underscores how quickly consumers are extending AI beyond productivity into high-stakes personal decisions. Employers, recruiters, HR technology companies, workforce development organizations and education providers have an opportunity to help job seekers combine AI's efficiency with trusted human guidance, while ensuring transparency and reducing the risk of biased outcomes.