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Journalism of Courage
It seems more and more professionals are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance productivity. The 2024 Work Trend Index Annual Report from Microsoft and LinkedIn has highlighted that employees today want AI at work and that this trend is visible across industries.
More employees are adopting Generative AI tools for work, often without the knowledge or official sanction of the employers. Based on the report, 75 per cent of ‘knowledge workers’ globally are using Generative AI. This pool of users includes 85 per cent Gen Z staff and 73 per cent boomers. The report also stated that as many as 53 per cent of AI users worry that if their employer finds out, it could signal they are replaceable.
Despite this widespread under-the-radar adoption, many companies are struggling to understand AI. 66 per cent of leaders say they wouldn’t hire someone without AI skills, yet only 39 per cent provide training for it, and 60 per cent of leaders worry their AI strategies are insufficient.
As employees grapple with the volume of work and expected pace of execution, they are bringing their own AI to work. Based on the report, ‘bring their own AI’ here means employees using AI tools that have not been sanctioned by the companies. While most business leaders admit that AI is imperative for business, most of them believe their organisations lack the vision and planning to apply AI to their workflows. “The pressure to show immediate ROI is making leaders inert, even in the face of AI inevitability.”
According to the report, 75 per cent of people are already using AI at work, while 46 per cent of them started using AI less than six months ago. 78 per cent of the respondents brought their own AI to work. This shows that without proper guidance from the top, employees are taking matters into their own hands and using AI under wraps.
As many as 52 per cent of people who use AI at work are reluctant to admit to using it for their most important tasks. This shows how companies are missing out on the benefits that come from strategic AI use at scale. It also puts company data at risk in an environment where an organisation’s biggest concern is cybersecurity and data privacy.
From the employer’s perspective, 66 per cent of leaders have admitted they would not hire someone without AI skills. This shows how acquiring AI skills has become key for jobseekers. Even though job loss is one of the major concerns with the rapid proliferation of AI, the report offers a balanced view.
As many as 55 per cent of leaders expressed concern about having enough talent to fill roles. These leaders hail from across functions, however, a majority (60 per cent or higher) are from cybersecurity, engineering, and creative design.
When it comes to working professionals, 45 per cent worry AI will replace their job, 46 per cent said they are considering quitting in the year ahead (higher than 40 per cent, who said the same in 2021). While many leaders said they won’t hire someone without skills, 71 per cent said that they would rather hire a less experienced person with AI skills than a more experienced candidate without them.
The report also highlighted the rise of AI power users. These are users who use generative AI at least several times a week and save at least 30 minutes a day with that.
The way forward
Based on the rapid adoption of AI and current trends, companies should work across leadership on plans for AI skills and guardrails rather than overlooking the technology. While employees are acknowledging AI’s benefits with productivity, using it secretly shows fears about obsolescence. Even as generative AI trickles down across organisations, companies must adapt to stay ahead.
