Interns Shifted Preferences Toward AI in Creative Work
As interns adopt AI for technical tasks, firms must navigate growing resistance to using these tools for creative projects.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Internships
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Do you prefer to keep artificial intelligence out of creative work like art and writing?
A 2026 survey of nearly 2,100 Goldman Sachs interns revealed that while most participants utilize AI for learning and technical support, a majority now oppose its use in creative workflows. The findings highlight shifting workplace expectations as the next generation of talent enters the labor market.
Why it matters
Understanding intern sentiment is critical for operators managing workforce integration and tool deployment strategies. As new hires increasingly distinguish between acceptable AI use cases and those they deem unsuitable, managers must adapt their training and collaboration frameworks accordingly.
The survey of 2,100 interns found that 64% use AI for learning, while 27% apply it to code checking. Conversely, 60% rejected AI involvement in creative tasks, even as 71% expressed comfort with AI for personal financial guidance.
The players
Goldman Sachs
A global investment bank and financial services firm that frequently shapes industry standards for talent development.
The details
Interns are actively integrating AI into their daily routines through direct experimentation and hands-on practice, specifically for learning and technical writing. Despite this technical proficiency, the data indicates a clear boundary where interns prefer traditional human oversight for creative projects. This divergence suggests that onboarding programs must now address both the high utilization of AI for productivity and the emerging skepticism regarding its role in creative output.
Timeline
Goldman Sachs conducted the annual intern survey in 2026.
Market Landscape
This development marks a shift from the previous industry assumption that junior talent would favor automation across all business functions. The trend follows the 2026 Goldman Sachs intern survey, which documents a nuanced resistance to technology in fields traditionally valued for human originality.
Operators should reevaluate their AI deployment policies by explicitly defining where human input remains mandatory for creative output. Expect to balance technical efficiency gains against a new workforce that prioritizes hands-on, in-person collaboration for high-value tasks.
The takeaway
Management should track the discrepancy between technical task adoption and creative resistance to better calibrate internal AI training. Consider polling your own incoming staff to identify whether these specific preferences for in-person collaboration and creative autonomy align with your current operations.
Further reading
For more on evolving workforce expectations, see our coverage of Internships.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Business Insider.
Live Poll
Do you prefer to keep artificial intelligence out of creative work like art and writing?
