More than a third of workers say they’re hoarding expertise because they fear being replaced by the AI agents they’re being asked to train
Executive Take
Surveillance and mandates won't extract real expertise because employees can comply while withholding what matters most. Leaders who don't address job security directly will get data, not knowledge.
Executive Summary
A survey of 4,000 workers found 35% are hoarding expertise because they fear AI will replace them, and 38% won't train colleagues in their areas of strength. The piece cites Meta's keystroke-tracking program, its 8,000 layoffs blamed on AI, and 175,000 tech layoffs in 2026 tied to AI capability gains.
Why It Matters
HR and AI leaders pushing knowledge-capture initiatives risk collecting shallow data if workers feel threatened. This is central to any company using AI training programs tied to layoffs or restructuring.
Bizquad Perspective
The real risk isn't slow AI adoption, it's that companies will train AI on incomplete expertise while believing they captured the real thing.