AI and Impostor Syndrome in the Digital Age

With the rapid expansion of technology in recent years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has spread its influence at an accelerated pace. Today, many people first turn to AI platforms for answers, to help them complete an assignment or work task, or to simply do the research for them. Finding information has never been so quick or so effortless.

AI delivers fast results, simplifies complex topics, and saves us valuable time. But convenience isn’t always without consequence. It can be deceptive. When everything comes so quickly and easily, we rarely stop to consider how it might quietly reshape our mindset and our sense of achievement. After all, part of what makes success meaningful is the effort behind it. When AI takes on that effort for us, it has the potential to strip away the sense of hard-earned accomplishment, leading to a disconnect between effort and accomplishment. It’s worth asking: What does this mean for our earned success? And what does this mean for people who measure themselves by their accomplishments?

Research suggests that AI may create excessively high-performance standards, which can further exacerbate feelings of inadequacy. Because AI can produce work quickly and often at a level that exceeds human capabilities, it can set a benchmark that many people may feel unable to reach. In fact, according to a 2024 McKinsey report, 56% of workers in organizations where AI is integrated experience moderate to high impostor syndrome, particularly in non-technical roles. Such findings point to the possibility that AI-assisted success can unknowingly amplify feelings of self-doubt and make our sense of competence feel uncertain.

This tension between effortless achievement and the effort that gives success its meaning connects closely to what psychologists call impostor syndrome. In the 1970s, psychologist Pauline Clance coined the term impostor syndrome (or phenomenon) to describe high-achieving individuals who, despite clear evidence of success, struggle to internalize their accomplishments. Instead of recognizing their own abilities, they attribute success to external factors such as luck, timing, or help from others. As a result, they experience persistent self-doubt and an underlying fear of being exposed as a fraud. A major characteristic of impostorism is the drive to meet high standards of achievement, often fueled by a need to confirm perceived intellectual abilities and protect self-esteem. This constant pressure to prove themselves can overshadow their achievements, leaving them feeling undeserving even when they have fully earned their success.

The rise of AI has created a new context for impostor syndrome in the workplace, affecting people whether they use AI themselves or not. One example is a person who already experiences impostor syndrome noticing that some colleagues consistently produce higher-quality work. This can intensify self-doubt and a sense of falling behind, particularly when it’s unclear whether the colleagues are relying on AI or are simply more skilled at using it. At the same time, employees who use AI themselves may begin to question the value of their own contributions. Even when continuing to deliver strong results, consulting AI – partially or fully- can make accomplishments feel less authentic or earned, leaving them unsure how much of their success is truly their own and potentially heightening their impostor feelings.

This evolving dynamic between impostor syndrome and AI use intersects with the field of digital psychology —a field that examines how interacting with technology and digital media shapes the way we think, make decisions, evaluate ourselves, and influences our behaviors, attitudes, motivation, and learning. When AI makes tasks effortless, it shifts how we experience success, learning, and competence. Traditionally, achieving something required effort, iteration, and problem-solving, all of which reinforced a sense of personal ability. Now, when a machine produces answers instantly, the brain gets conflicting signals: the outcome is impressive, but the personal effort feels minimal. That mismatch can create cognitive dissonance, a psychological tension between what we did and what we achieved. Over time, this can reinforce impostor feelings, making us question our intelligence, skills, and even identity in an increasingly growing digital world. 

So how can one combat this? The key is to be intentional with how AI is used, protecting one’s sense of achievement. AI can be a support tool rather than a replacement for personal effort. For example, it can help spark ideas, guide research, or structure a presentation—but it’s still important to stay actively engaged through deeper thinking and facilitation. Learn along the way and use AI as an opportunity to grow skills and knowledge rather than as a shortcut. Expand on what AI provides, question it, and add your own input. Take charge of the final outcome. Reflection can help here. Ask yourself questions such as: “What skills or knowledge did I bring that allowed me to refine or improve what AI produced?”, “In what ways did I shape the final result to reflect my own voice, values, or expertise?”, and “What did I learn, or what skills did I strengthen with the help of AI?”.

For those who don’t use AI, it can help to focus on your own efforts and view your work from the perspective that you accomplished it on your own. The skills, problem-solving, and persistence you brought to your tasks are meaningful and reflect your abilities. What matters is being intentional and aware of the contribution you are making, whether or not AI is part of the process.

Moving Forward: 

Ultimately, AI is changing the way we create, learn, and measure success, shaping not only how we work, but also how we understand our own abilities and accomplishments. For those who experience impostor feelings, the speed and the work AI produces can sometimes amplify self-doubt. Yet, with mindful use, AI can serve as a supportive tool, reinforcing our skills, and building confidence, rather than causing us to lose sight of our own accomplishments or feel as though it takes away from someone’s skill or effort.