One in three Australian workers say they are using artificial intelligence to get promoted without telling their employer, and even say using the technology makes them feel like they are cheating.
Related Articles Block Placeholder
Article ID: 323461
But their sinful secret is to improve productivity in the workplace, and companies could make more money if they openly supported their use, the study found.
Software provider Employment Hero on Tuesday released the results of a survey of more than 2,600 employees and employers, which also found that many workers are training themselves to use AI tools using materials found online.
The findings come after the National AI Center reported that almost half of Australian organizations have the technology in place, but 19% said they still didn’t know how to use it.
The report called The AI paradox at worksurveyed more than 1,000 Australian business leaders and 1,600 employees about their use and experience with artificial intelligence tools.
It found that three in four Australian workers believe AI has improved their productivity (75%), and a similar number say AI has improved the quality of their work (74%).
However, one in three employees secretly use AI tools without company approval, and employers reported that many employees use personal AI accounts at work (44%).
Employment Hero Asia Pacific managing director James Keene said more than half of workers using AI are self-taught on how to use it, which can lead to poor outcomes.
Related Articles Block Placeholder
Article ID: 311369
“Most of them go directly to TikTok and YouTube and various blogs and websites rather than company-owned materials on how to actually use AI in the best way,” he said. AAP.
“If you were imagining a situation five years ago where employees had to covertly go to their own sources to be more productive at work, that’s a very interesting situation that we found ourselves in.”
Keene said many employees hid their use of AI out of guilt, with two in five saying using the tool felt like cheating, while others were worried about losing their jobs due to AI.
Companies can change these attitudes by openly discussing how they use technology and setting clear guidelines, he said.
“There’s a real lesson here for employers: If you really want to encourage your employees to use this technology, you need to demonstrate it to them yourself,” he said.
UNSW Sydney researcher Dr Anna Kiaos said unclear guidance could create a stressful environment for workers, but that could be fixed with leadership.
“The only thing holding back the workforce right now isn’t technology; it’s the uncertainty of whether employees are actually allowed to use technology in a way that works for them,” she said.
This article was first published by ah.
