Artificial intelligence (AI) is making workers feel more self-sufficient, but it may also be reducing the informal exchanges that empower learning and build relationships.
Employees reported that regular AI use has bolstered self-sufficiency (71%) and confidence in independent decision-making (62%) in the past year. However, more workers globally are turning to AI to fill knowledge gaps instead of seeking input and advice from colleagues.
Nearly three-quarters of employees (74%) who regularly use AI now direct questions to a chatbot that they would previously have asked a colleague, according to a global survey by MyIQ, an intelligence assessment and cognitive training platform.
Also, 59% of workers said they ask colleagues for second opinions less often than they did before using AI. And additional 48% reported that spontaneous conversations during the workday had become less frequent, the survey found.
Over 22,000 employees across 10 regions were surveyed in June and July.
As impromptu interactions decline, opportunities to learn from peers diminish. Overreliance on chatbots restricts employees’ ability to contribute context, challenge assumptions, and sharpen judgement, the survey said.
Nearly half (46%) said they know less about how their colleagues think and approach problems, and 43% are now finding their peers harder to read professionally.
Fewer opportunities to learn from colleagues could have a significant impact on work culture long term. The survey found that 38% of respondents said newer workers now have fewer natural opportunities to build relationships because many routine interactions no longer occur.
“The findings do not establish that AI use directly weakens workplace relationships. They do, however, indicate that employees associate greater reliance on AI with a change in how often they consult, observe, and informally learn from one another,” the survey said.
— To comment on this article or to suggest an idea for another article, contact Steph Brown at Stephanie.Brown@aicpa-cima.com.