AI can replace the boss – but not me

Almost one in three employees in Germany believes that AI can replace their own boss. Specifically, 29 percent consider their superiors dispensable once artificial intelligence can take over their tasks. In contrast, only 23 percent consider their job to be largely automatable. Furthermore, 22 percent report that their employer is no longer refilling positions due to AI or is already reducing them. This is according to a representative survey by the industry association Bitkom.

Bitkom sees AI as an answer to demographic change and a potential shortage of skilled workers. “Due to demographic development, there will be more work than workers in Germany in the coming years. AI will be an answer to the emerging labor shortage,” says Susanne Dehmel, member of the Bitkom management board. Companies and politics must prepare society for the new world of work and specifically qualify employees.

AI use in the workplace doubles

In many companies, AI tools are now part of everyday life. 38 percent of employees have access to corresponding applications through their employer. 27 percent actively use them, and another 11 percent leave the access unused.

A similar picture is painted by the HR Monitor 2026 from the consulting firm McKinsey: The regular use of AI applications in the workplace in Germany has doubled in one year from 19 to 38 percent. However, the pace of implementation is not keeping up with training. A current Forsa survey on behalf of the TÜV Association shows that half of the surveyed companies see a high or very high need for qualification for their employees in dealing with AI.

The gap is particularly large in small companies: while almost every second large company (49 percent) has already offered AI training, the proportion is only 21 percent in small businesses.

Many employees without access to AI tools

However, AI is far from being widespread in everyday work everywhere. According to Bitkom, 31 percent of respondents state that their employer does not provide any AI applications. Another 26 percent simply do not know, and four percent did not provide any information.

For the current survey, Bitkom Research surveyed 1003 people aged 16 and over in Germany by telephone in February and March 2026, including 550 employed individuals.

(fo)