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Attitudes about artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace are complex, with many employees feeling excited about the benefits of the technology but unsure of when and how to use it within the scope of their job.
One of the biggest complaints employees have about AI is that the hype doesn’t reflect workplace reality, according to a global research study by Miro, an AI-powered collaboration platform. The survey of nearly 8,100 knowledge workers in seven global markets revealed that employees think employers are not developing a clear AI strategy that benefits workers and they often feel they have to figure out AI for themselves. Half of survey respondents said there is a lot of talk about AI at work but little action and 40% said their employer frequently abandons AI plans.
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“There is an appetite amongst corporates to leverage AI, and the research shows this appetite is matched by employees who understand the importance of incorporating AI to their roles,” said Jeff Chow, chief product and technology officer at Miro. “But there is a clear divide on the steps necessary to drive AI transformation. The misalignment between company investment and employee excitement points to a huge missed opportunity for true organizational change and innovation acceleration.”
According to the survey, the majority of workers are embracing AI, but their level of knowledge varies. About one-third of workers consider themselves to have expert or good AI knowledge and skills, while 35% said their AI skills are nonexistent. The largest percentage – 54% – said they do not have the time and resources to learn how to fully leverage AI. Three-quarters said they believe AI could benefit their role. Employees pointed to potential AI benefits including improved productivity, enhanced creativity and better communication.
Many employees indicated they are unsure whether to admit they use AI or hide it. Twenty percent said they have felt like using AI in their job is akin to cheating and 30% said they downplay their use of AI in the workplace. Employees indicated employers can increase comfort level with AI by providing formal training, clarifying company strategy for AI adoption, and communicating the potential business benefits of AI.
Nearly two-thirds of respondents said AI makes them feel excited or energized and roughly the same percentage believe AI can improve their wellbeing and job satisfaction. Nearly 70% said they plan to develop more AI skills in 2025. Interestingly, 42% said they plan to use AI to get a new job.
Despite being digital natives, Gen Z was the most hesitant generation about using AI. Forty-six percent of Gen Z respondents said they don’t use AI and 43% said their AI skills are nonexistent.
“AI is moving fast and it’s easy for organizations to be distracted by buzzwords and unrealistic expectations,” said Chow. “In reality, many AI solutions are not user-friendly enough for all knowledge workers, and they are difficult to deploy at scale and in a consistent way. Leaders should therefore stay focused on moving from platform rollout to process adoption, and ensuring their teams are equipped for the shift this will require.”
That includes upskilling people, prioritizing process value and deployment, and implementing product integrations for maximum ease of access and repeatability, said Chow.
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