Daily AI users may be overestimating their communication skills, Preply study finds

By AI, Created 6:07 AM UTC, June 05, 2026, /AGP/ – A new Preply survey of more than 1,000 U.S. workers says daily AI use for writing can boost confidence on paper while weakening real-world communication skills. The finding matters for employers because many workers report more difficulty with spontaneous conversations, feedback, and live meetings.

Why it matters: - Daily AI use may be creating a confidence gap: workers feel more polished in writing while losing comfort in live, unscripted communication. - The shift could affect meetings, feedback, networking and other moments where AI is not available to help. - Gen Z workers appear especially exposed, with stronger signs of reduced confidence in live conversation.

What happened: - Preply surveyed more than 1,000 U.S. workers to study how AI is changing workplace communication. - The 2026 AI and Workplace Communication Survey found that 33% of workers use AI to write work communications multiple times a day. - 63% of workers use AI to avoid difficult conversations at work. - 40% say relying on AI for communication has reduced their confidence in live conversations, including 55% of Gen Z workers.

The details: - Among daily AI users, 71% say AI has increased their confidence in their own communication skills, compared with 53% of workers overall. - Daily AI users were more likely than workers overall to say they feel less confident without AI when presenting to a group: 28.7% versus 21.9%. - Daily AI users were more likely to report lower confidence when giving critical feedback: 33.7% versus 28.0%. - Daily AI users were more likely to feel less confident writing professionally: 37.7% versus 31.1%. - Daily AI users were more likely to feel less confident speaking in meetings: 26.8% versus 20.5%. - Daily AI users were more likely to feel less confident networking or socializing at a professional event: 23.5% versus 16.6%. - 51% of workers say AI has made spontaneous conversation feel more difficult, rising to 66% among Gen Z workers. - 44% say they sometimes freeze up in in-person conversations because they cannot review or edit their words first. - 86% of daily AI users say AI makes people appear more skilled and articulate than they really are, compared with 82% of workers overall. - 81% of daily AI users say they can identify AI-generated writing, compared with 73% of workers overall. - The report says AI can help with drafting, editing, translating and preparing for difficult conversations.

Between the lines: - The survey points to an “AI polish gap,” where writing tools may make employees sound more capable than they feel in real life. - That mismatch could become a management problem if workers lean on AI for written communication but get less practice with live conversation. - The results suggest communication training may need to focus more on human interaction, not just polished writing.

What’s next: - Preply’s findings suggest workers will need more chances to practice live conversation as AI use grows. - Employers may need to balance AI-assisted writing with training that builds confidence in speaking, feedback and spontaneous discussion. - The survey was conducted in collaboration with Dataframe in May 2026 among 1,142 U.S. respondents, including 1,002 who reported full- or part-time employment.