Workers feel pressured to use AI in the workplace. Photo: Shutterstock
According to social scientist Nigel Dalton, many employees “large” at work by pretending to use artificial intelligence because of pressure to utilize technology.
Dalton of Tech Consultancy Thoughtworks gave a keynote address at Rmit Online's Future Skills Fest on Monday, explaining the difficult situation for Australian workers of all ages when it comes to AI.
He said it's like going from the zoo to the jungle, and that many workers experience paralysis when it comes to new technology.
Dalton pointed to a recent survey and found that one in six workers pretended to use AI in the workplace.
A survey conducted by engineer outsourcing company Howdy.com found that workers felt pressured to use AI in uncertain situations, and that three-quarters of them were expected to use technology in the workplace.
“AI is taking over the white-collar workspace to provide opportunities for daily updates to optimize,” the report said.
“However, possibilities don't always lead to smooth implementations.”
“larping” at work
Dalton said these workers are “larping” and are not adapting to new technologies such as AI.
“They're opening a Gemini or capillot when their boss gets up behind them, and they're larping – they're live action role-playing,” Dalton said.
“This is interesting. What kind of human behavior did you incite here from the way you scaffold work, scenes and structures?”
The use of AI by companies of all shapes and sizes has been accelerating in recent years, especially since the advent of generator AI tools such as ChatGPT.
Earlier this year, Goldman Sachs became one of the biggest companies working with human employees and hiring AI software engineers to fully utilize complex, multi-stage tasks.
Social scientist Nigel Dalton says he will look back on this period in 10 years and laugh. Photo: Shutterstock
Dalton compared the German chess term “Zugzwang” regarding AI as an example of how many workers feel about AI.
“This is a very good explanation of where we feel ourselves today and in our careers,” he said.
“If you do that, it's going to be wrong. If I stand still, it's fine. But you can't stand still. So you're feeling a dissonance in your head. But that probably leads to doing nothing.
“We're anchored at this ridiculous time, and in ten years we all look back and laugh.”
From the zoo to the jungle
With the increasing use of AI across all businesses, it is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate for employees at all levels, especially those who have not yet fully utilized technology.
Dalton said it was like a workplace heading from the zoo to the jungle.
“We all worked in the zoo, a rather complicated process,” he said.
“The zoo allows you to take photos of the wildlife, but the roads are specific, there are timetables, and everything is very safe.
“At the zoo, all animals stay in the cages. That's the existence of work. There was no looming threat to what came out of the forest.
“Now we use work safaris, career safaris. There are no roads, signs, timetables.
“The animals are hidden and working together in a way that is inconspicuous and may come from anywhere.
“Navigating the jungle requires a new mindset, which involves getting used to getting lost in how it feels to go backwards for a while.”
According to Dalton, there are four important factors that shape the future of work. The climate crisis, aging citizens, destructive technology, and declining social equity.
“It's not just about these things, it's about weaving them together,” he said.
“We believe that in these unlikely places, businesses will be built with opportunities.
“It's hard to navigate now, but there's always history, so there's a chance in all of this mess.”
