Many office workers do not tell their companies even after using AI to cut work time, the report showed. As a view spreads that higher efficiency only increases additional work without matching rewards, an so-called "AI version of quiet quitting" is emerging, it said.

A person in their 20s identified only as Mr A, who handles PR and marketing at an entertainment company in Japan, automated parts of the workflow such as summarising and drafting materials with company-approved AI, Japan's ITmedia reported on Sept. 14. That saved about 10 hours a month, but he has not told his boss or colleagues. He judged that disclosing the efficiency gains would only increase his workload or lead to demands to share know-how, while promotion or pay rises were unlikely.

The same view appears in an overseas survey. In a 2025 survey by IT company Ivanti of more than 6,000 office workers worldwide, 32 percent of those who use AI at work said they hide productivity improvements gained through AI. The most common reason was "I want to maintain a secret competitive advantage" at 36 percent, while 30 percent cited worries about job cuts.

Some 52 percent of all office workers agreed with the statement: "If I work more efficiently, my employer gives me more work." It suggests an underlying distrust that even if AI cuts working hours, the gains may not translate into more free time or compensation for workers.

A similar structure is seen in Japan. According to Persol Research and Consulting, 61.2 percent of the time saved through AI was put back into work, and 32.5 percent of people said they felt that using AI or supporting colleagues was not reflected in formal work and evaluations. Companies that reflect AI use in evaluations and treatment stood at 12 percent.

Experts said that unless companies build systems to evaluate and reward productivity gains and knowledge sharing rather than the volume of AI use itself, the practice of employees hiding efficiency gains could continue.