15% of Americans open to working under an AI boss, new survey reveals

A growing share of Americans are showing openness to a workplace future where artificial intelligence takes on managerial roles, even as broader concerns about AI and employment remain strong.

A recent survey conducted by Quinnipiac University found that 15% of respondents would be willing to work in a job where their direct supervisor is an AI system responsible for assigning tasks and managing schedules. The poll, which included 1,397 adults across the United States, was conducted between March 19 and March 23, 2026, and explored attitudes toward AI use, trust in it, and its impact on jobs.

While this figure reflects a notable level of acceptance, the majority of respondents said they would not be comfortable replacing a human manager with an AI-driven alternative. Still, the idea of AI playing a supervisory role is gradually gaining traction, particularly as companies experiment with automating management functions.

Several major organisations have already begun integrating AI into managerial workflows. Workday has introduced AI agents capable of handling tasks such as filing and approving expense reports on employees' behalf. Meanwhile, Amazon has implemented AI-driven systems that take over certain responsibilities traditionally handled by middle management, a shift that has coincided with layoffs affecting thousands of managerial roles.

At Uber, engineers have even developed an AI-based model of CEO Dara Khosrowshahi to review and respond to internal proposals before they reach executive leadership. These developments point toward a broader trend of organisations using AI to streamline decision-making and reduce hierarchical layers.

This transformation has led some observers to describe the phenomenon as "The Great Flattening," where automated systems replace traditional management structures. In extreme scenarios, it raises the possibility of highly efficient companies operating with minimal human oversight, powered largely by AI-driven processes.

Despite these advancements, concerns about job security remain widespread. According to the same survey, 70% of respondents believe that continued progress in AI will reduce the number of available job opportunities. Among those currently employed, 30% said they are either very concerned or somewhat concerned that AI could eventually make their own roles obsolete. The findings highlight a complex relationship between acceptance and anxiety. While a segment of the population is open to working under AI supervision, broader scepticism about its long-term impact on employment continues to shape public opinion.