---
id: "quote-fear-drives-compliance"
type: "quote"
source_timestamps: ["§ Why Anxiety Can Increase AI Use and Still Stall Results", "¶19"]
tags: ["compliance", "metrics"]
related: ["concept-performative-ai-usage", "claim-anxiety-increases-usage"]
speaker: "Erin Eatough, Keith Ferrazzi, Wendy Smith and Shonna Waters"
speakers: ["Erin Eatough", "Keith Ferrazzi", "Wendy Smith", "Shonna Waters"]
quote: "The insight: Fear about job loss or becoming obsolete can drive compliance and usage, but it does not necessarily produce true buy-in and commitment."
sources: ["tail2"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-tail2"
originDay: 2
articleStem: "hbr-tail-127-ai-adoption-stalls"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2026/02/why-ai-adoption-stalls-according-to-industry-data"
sourceTitle: "Why AI Adoption Stalls, According to Industry Data"
---
# Fear Drives Compliance, Not Buy-In

> "The insight: Fear about job loss or becoming obsolete can drive **compliance and usage**, but it does not necessarily produce **true buy-in and commitment**."

— [[entity-erin-eatough]], [[entity-keith-ferrazzi]], [[entity-wendy-smith]] and [[entity-shonna-waters]]

This quote is the plain-language core of [[claim-anxiety-increases-usage]] and defines [[concept-performative-ai-usage]].