Clutch Report: 76% of Workers Ask AI the Questions They Are Too Embarrassed to Ask Coworkers

New survey finds AI is now the first stop for workplace questions, but more than half say it is creating silos on their teams

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New Clutch research finds AI is becoming workers' first stop for help. Seventy-six percent have asked AI a work question they were too embarrassed to ask a colleague, and 45% go to AI first with questions, nearly three times as many as those who ask a coworker (16%).

Clutch surveyed 669 full-time U.S. workers who regularly use AI in October 2026 to understand how it is changing collaboration, mentorship and company culture.

Key findings include:

• 43% often ask AI a question they would be embarrassed to ask a coworker, most commonly how to do a task (64%) or what a term means (49%).
• 44% turn to AI first after making a mistake.
• 64% trust AI over a coworker for writing, but 67% trust a coworker more for company-specific knowledge.
• 90% collaborate as much as or more than before AI.
• 57% say AI is creating silos on their teams, and 76% worry newer employees are missing out on learning from colleagues.

Speed drives the shift, with 72% of AI-first workers saying it is faster. But 51% report fewer check-ins from teammates and 33% notice less mentoring of newer employees.

In response, 64% of companies now have an internal AI tool trained on their own documentation.

"AI is taking over the quick questions that used to bring coworkers together," said Hannah Hicklen, Clutch analyst. "Companies need to be intentional about mentorship, or the time AI saves will come at the expense of people still learning."

Read the full report on Clutch.

About Clutch

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