For all the breathless headlines about robots taking our jobs, it turns out most Australians are reacting to workplace AI with something closer to curiosity than panic.
New research from LinkedIn suggests the national mood around artificial intelligence is far more pragmatic than apocalyptic. According to a new poll released this week, 78 per cent of Australians say they feel either relieved or curious when AI takes over tasks they used to do at work. Only 17 per cent say they feel threatened.
The findings were shared as LinkedIn marked the Australian launch of its new book Open to Work: How to Get Ahead in the Age of AI, which aims to help professionals navigate the rapidly shifting world of work.
And if the data tells us anything, it is that Australians are already beginning to settle into the idea that AI will be part of their working lives.
The shift is happening quickly. Over the past decade, hiring for AI talent has grown more than 300 per cent globally. And, created more than 1.3 million roles. At the same time, Australian workplaces are rapidly building AI literacy, with LinkedIn reporting a 32 per cent year on year increase in employees developing AI related skills. In large enterprises, that number jumps to 60 per cent.
In other words, AI is no longer something confined to Silicon Valley or tech startups. It is increasingly becoming part of everyday work.
Yet the emotional response from workers is complicated. While many professionals recognise the opportunity, the speed of change is clearly unsettling for some. LinkedIn’s research shows that 37 per cent of Australians feel overwhelmed by how quickly they are expected to understand and use AI tools in their jobs.
That tension reflects a broader reality across offices everywhere. Workers know the technology is here to stay, but many are still figuring out how to use it effectively.
Matt Tindale, Managing Director of LinkedIn Australia and New Zealand, says the research suggests Australians may be more adaptable than they give themselves credit for.
“The world of work is changing faster than most of us expected. And, it is okay to find that daunting,” he said. “But the data shows Australians are more ready to adapt than they might think.”
Still, there is a quiet warning embedded in the numbers. Nearly two thirds of Australians believe people who resist AI tools risk falling behind in their careers. It is a reminder that curiosity about the technology is quickly becoming more than just a nice trait. It is becoming a professional necessity.
One of the fastest emerging skills, according to LinkedIn’s Skills on the Rise data for 2026, is prompt engineering, the ability to effectively guide AI tools to generate useful responses. Alongside data literacy and AI fluency, these capabilities are rapidly moving from niche expertise to mainstream workplace skills.
But despite all the talk about algorithms and automation, the research also reinforces a reassuring truth. Humans are not going anywhere.
A striking 82 per cent of Australians say trusted human judgement remains irreplaceable, even as AI becomes more capable. Qualities such as creativity, communication and decision making are still widely seen as distinctly human strengths.
That balance between machine capability and human insight was a central theme at LinkedIn’s Sydney launch event for the book, which brought together leaders from tech, media and business to discuss how AI is reshaping work.
The panel featured Brendan Wong, Editor of LinkedIn News, Sarah Carney, National CTO at Microsoft Australia and New Zealand, Sam Koslowski, co founder of The Daily Aus, and Jessica Farrell, Chief People Officer at Publicis Groupe ANZ.
Their message was consistent. AI is not replacing human workers so much as reshaping how work gets done.
Carney said the key for professionals is not to master every new tool overnight but simply to start experimenting.
“AI is moving from something people read about to something they are expected to use at work,” she said. “The most important step is to start small, stay curious and practice, because confidence comes from doing.”
If that advice sounds simple, it probably is. The reality is that most workers are learning about AI in real time, often alongside their colleagues and managers.
Perhaps the most interesting takeaway from the LinkedIn research is that Australians seem to be approaching the shift with a distinctly practical mindset. Not blind enthusiasm, but not panic either.
A mix of curiosity, caution and cautious optimism.
In the age of AI, that might be exactly the right attitude.
