People with stronger knowledge of artificial intelligence are more likely to fear it will take over their jobs, according to TU Darmstadt’s AI Monitor 2026 based on a representative survey of more than 2,000 people in Germany.
About 43% of respondents with very strong AI knowledge said they expect AI could soon take over their work, while that share drops sharply among people with less understanding of the technology.
Professor Peter Buxmann, who led the study, said the finding was remarkable and worrying because public debate often assumes job fears mainly reflect a lack of information.
The study said workers are more exposed when their output can be digitized, including text, analysis, reports, code and presentations, than workers whose jobs depend on physical presence.
Daily AI use in most workplaces remains limited for now, the study said.
Only 15% of respondents said they had taken part in any form of AI training, pointing to a gap in skills related to AI use.
Respondents’ main concerns were AI hallucinations and data privacy, while only 40% said they considered a future superintelligence likely.
Younger workers reported more job anxiety than older ones, and concern about job security rose across all occupational groups compared with the previous year.
Buxmann rejected simple reassurance as a response to those fears, saying job loss affects more than income because it can also damage social connection and a sense of purpose.
He said better training and honest discussions about changing work would be a more effective response, adding that generative AI is likely to create new jobs but not replace disappearing roles on a one-to-one basis.
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