The hype around emerging technologies does not mean companies are putting artificial intelligence (AI) to the test, according to a new report.
The share of executives across the world aiming to implement AI in their organisations in the next 18 months has risen from 5% to 35% since September last year, according to messaging application Slack’s latest Workforce Index. AI innovation now tops the list of leaders’ external concerns, above inflation or the broader economy.
Yet, more than two-thirds of desk workers have never experimented with AI at work, the report said, and 37% say their company has no AI policy. “Concerns about privacy and data security followed by mistrust of data quality and accuracy top the list of blockers that desk workers cite as limiting factors,” the report said.
Leaders are eager to tap into the value of AI, as 81% of users found that AI tools are improving their productivity, the report said. Workforces also say that using AI has enhanced their experience at work and has made them more engaged in their roles.
Employees who use AI are 29% more likely to say they feel highly passionate about their work; 25% more likely to say they have more flexibility at work; and 24% more likely to be satisfied in their roles than workers who do not use AI in their jobs. The report surveyed 10,045 workers across six regions in March.
Barriers and biases
Trust issues are slowing down training initiatives and, in turn, stalling the innovation potential for companies, the report said.
While 35% of desk workers say AI results are only slightly or not at all trustworthy, and only 7% consider the outputs of AI completely trustworthy, desk workers who are well trained in AI are seven times more likely to trust those tools to assist them at work, compared with workers who lack AI training.
Relationships between workforces and leadership can also affect the development of AI technologies. “Desk workers who feel trusted by their employers are 94% more likely to have tried AI for work-related tasks, and they’re also more trusting of AI’s accuracy and reliability,” the report said.
Workforce accessibility may be restricted by other factors, the report said, with more men trialling AI at work (35%) than women (29%).
“Even though younger workers are most likely to have experimented with AI tools, the AI gender gap is largest among [Generation Z],” the report said, “with men ages 18 to 29 25% more likely to have tried AI tools compared with women in the same age group.”
Leading the change
For companies to fully realise AI’s potential, it is imperative for leaders to educate workforces on the way their roles are changing, the report acknowledged. Otherwise, companies risk missing out on potential productivity gains.
Most desk workers surveyed said they would prioritise administrative tasks (22%) with the time saved from AI automation, an area companies would likely limit focus on following the integration of AI, the report said. High-value work such as innovating and creating (16%), learning and skill-building (16%), and networking with colleagues (11%) fell to the bottom.
“The data shows that employees using AI are having an all-around markedly better time on the job. They’re not just more productive; they’re experiencing greater excitement, fulfilment, and pride in their work,” Christina Janzer, head of Slack’s Workforce Lab, said in the report. “If we want to make the most of what AI can offer, it’s up to us as leaders to help our people prioritise the most rewarding work.”
— To comment on this article or to suggest an idea for another article, contact Steph Brown at Stephanie.Brown@aicpa-cima.com.
