October 6, 2025 | Mark Hudson

HR Morning ─ Are your employees quietly using AI but too embarrassed to admit it? In a new byline article, “Breaking the AI Shame Cycle: 5 Ways to Build AI Confidence,” Casey Heck, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Traliant, explores the stigma around AI use. Although AI tools are increasingly woven into how work gets done, many employees still downplay or hide their use — turning innovation into secrecy. 

This lack of employee confidence can hold organizations back from scaling AI responsibly. Heck urges HR and IT leaders to work together to create transparency and shared understanding, making AI use a normal, trusted part of everyday work — not something employees feel they need to hide. 

“When you move to fostering a culture where AI learning is celebrated, it’s use becomes something openly embraced and a catalyst for growth, creativity and connection,” Heck says.

Heck outlines five practical ways to flip the script and build AI confidence across your workforce: 

  1. Normalize AI usage in everyday communications 
  2. Build trust through clear guardrails and oversight 
  3. Training employees and managers in responsible use
  4. Promote peer-to-peer learning 
  5. Foster psychological safety around experimentation 

        Heck notes that building AI confidence is about trust, inclusion and support — empowering employees to learn and experiment without fear of judgment. With the right approach, organizations can unlock greater productivity, spark innovation and strengthen employee engagement. 

        Click here to read the full article.