Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the workplace — not only operationally, but also psychologically. As AI evolves from a “copilot” supporting employees to a “judge” evaluating them, a growing trust gap is emerging: while augmentation is widely embraced, algorithmic decisions on performance and compensation are increasingly questioned. The key challenge for 2026 lies not in the technology itself, but in ensuring transparency, fairness, and maintaining meaningful human oversight.