How do Professionals Really Feel About Gen AI in 2025?

Navigating Workforce Perspectives on AI Adoption

The conversation about AI in professional services has noticeably evolved over the past year. Results from the 2025 Thomson Reuters survey suggest a significant shift: where once there was caution and even outright fear, there is now a sense of possibility, balanced by practical concerns.

Changing Attitudes

Compared to 2024, there has been a marked increase in positive sentiment toward GenAI:

- 55% of professionals now describe their feelings about AI’s impact as either hopeful or excited.

- Hesitancy has dropped by 11 percentage points.

- Only 2% express no strong reaction either way.

This changing attitude appears to stem from greater hands-on experience with GenAI tools. As professionals become more familiar with daily applications, many initial reservations have given way to a sense of opportunity.

What’s Driving Optimism?

Survey respondents cited several reasons for their positive outlook:

- AI’s ability to save time and streamline work processes

- Expectations of improved productivity and efficiency

- Opportunities for industry-wide innovation and growth

- Access to new, practical tools for problem-solving

- The potential to transform how sectors operate in general

As one respondent stated, “I see generative AI as a game changer… The potential to streamline processes, unlock innovative solutions, and add strategic value is substantial.”

Ongoing Concerns and Hesitations

Despite this optimism, many professionals still report reservations, including:

- Ongoing worries about accuracy and misinformation

- Uncertainty over how AI will evolve and what this trajectory means for their business

- Concerns about over-reliance on automation at the expense of human judgement

- Skepticism arising from previous negative experiences with technology

- The need for robust monitoring and oversight

A lawyer in the survey put it succinctly: “There’s a blind faith that ChatGPT is always correct—and it isn’t… We still need a legally trained human to assess outputs.”

Variation Across Sectors

The report shows that hope is not universal. Legal and government professionals express more hesitation, with only 48% of government employees believing GenAI should be applied to their work, compared to 75% in the corporate tax sector.

Still, even among those who are hesitant, there is a growing sense that GenAI’s presence in professional life is inevitable and worth investigating, provided concerns are addressed.

What's Next?

The survey points to a constructive route forward: encouraging familiarity, providing clear guidance and support, and focusing on the core challenges of accuracy, oversight, and meaningful training. Leaders should aim to nurture enthusiasm for GenAI, while openly discussing risks and supporting staff as they adapt.

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Read more insights on how professional services firms are responding the the rise of GenAI.