Female computer programmer works on complex software development tasks at her home office late into the night. Software developer, artificial intelligence and programming concept.

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I’ve loyally listened to the same tech radio show for nearly three decades. It was my weekly ritual, a high-level masterclass where brilliant, tech-savvy callers asked advanced questions that made me feel like I was getting an exclusive look behind the digital curtain. But lately, that ritual’s hit a wall.

It has essentially transformed into a senior citizen help desk. Instead of deep dives into encryption or hardware specs, the airwaves are now filled with basic troubleshooting questions that feel like they belong in an old Windows for Dummies manual. I found myself strongly considering to find another show to listen to, frustrated that my favorite source of inside information has been diluted by people who don't know how to clear their cache.

But then, I took a breath and remembered my own experience. I spent years helping my parents solve the most common tech hurdles, from connecting a Wii game console to navigating the TV software to swap from Prime to Netflix. I’ll never forget the time my dad tried turning on the TV; instead of picking up the remote, he was aiming his unfolded, silver flip phone at the cable box. They were both silver and rectangular, so I understood the logic, but the visual was a fitting metaphor for the generational tech gap. We all had a laugh, but the deer-in-headlights look on his face stayed with me.

That’s why an email pitch last week caught my attention. According to a new study conducted by The Harris Poll, 42 percent of U.S. workers are embarrassed to ask for help with new tech. This isn't just about seniors struggling with remotes anymore. There is a massive, critical disconnect in the modern workplace. While employees are rapidly embracing AI, they’re doing so without clear guidance or transparency. The stats are startling: 52 percent of employees consider themselves "experts" at using AI for work, and 63 percent believe this knowledge makes them indispensable. Yet, one in four people say they wouldn’t feel comfortable telling a coworker they used AI to complete a task. Thus, it seems we’re surrounded by colleagues who claim to be experts but are actually terrified of looking incompetent. That fear is paralyzing the very innovation these tools are supposed to foster.

My advice? You cannot succeed with machines unless you’re willing to break them. Tech is rarely foolproof, but it is incredibly resilient. If you’re a silent user, stop hiding. If you’re worried about losing data, back it up to the cloud first – and then go to town. Use AI to build an app, create a complex spreadsheet, or let a travel bot plan your next vacation. If you screw up, you can always factory reset and start over. The extra time it takes to fix a mistake is actually just the cost of tuition for a real education. Be the one who isn't afraid to press the buttons. Embrace the latest tech, rather than shun it. You’ll be better off in the long run.