According to a recent study by the Boston Consulting Group, employees are optimistic about the impact of AI, especially generative AI, on their jobs, but sentiment varies widely by seniority and country.
The study surveyed more than 12,800 C-suite and frontline employees in 18 countries across industries to understand how the evolution of AI is impacting the workplace. It is based on.
“GenAI is a rapidly evolving field whose transformative impact is already being felt in workplaces around the world,” said Global Leader in AI and Software at BCG X and co-author of the study. As one Nicolas De Bellefonds said:
AI Optimism Increases, Concerns Decline.emotions Varies by seniority and region
When asked about the impact of AI on work, 52% of respondents listed optimism as one of their top two emotions, a 17 percentage point increase since the survey was last conducted in 2018. . Concern has declined most sharply compared to five years ago, dropping from 40% to 30%.
Senior leaders who use generative AI more often are more optimistic and less concerned about generative AI than their front line employees. While 62% of leaders are optimistic about AI, only 42% of frontline employees share that view. The majority (80%) of leaders reported using generative AI tools on a regular basis, but only 20% of frontline employees used them. In addition, field employees made up the largest percentage (60%) of non-users across generative AI tools.
Feelings about AI in the workplace also vary by region. The most optimistic are Brazil (71%), India (60%) and the Middle East (58%). Meanwhile, the least optimistic countries are the United States (46%), the Netherlands (44%) and Japan (40%). The regions most concerned about AI are the Netherlands (42%), France (41%) and Japan (38%), while the least concerned are the Middle East (25%), Brazil (19%) and India ( 14%). .
Prepare for the impact of AI
About 36% of respondents believe that AI will likely eliminate their jobs. To prepare, 86% of her respondents believe she needs training to hone her skills. However, only 14% of frontline employees said they had received upskilling training so far, compared to his 44% of leaders.
“Upskilling is essential and must be ongoing. This is not only about learning how to use technology, but also enabling employees to adapt to their roles as activities and skill requirements evolve. There is,” said Vinciane Beauchene, BCG managing director, partner and co-author of the study.
Regulatory and Responsible Priorities for Employees
Despite concerns, 71% of respondents believe the benefits of generative AI outweigh the risks. However, 79% of all respondents also believe AI-specific regulation is needed.
Many companies are developing and implementing responsible AI frameworks to manage technology in a way that aligns with their organizational purpose and ethical values.
Employees have mixed opinions about the effectiveness of these programs. His 68% of leaders are confident their organization has put in place measures for responsible AI use, but only 29% of frontline employees share that view.
Takeaways for leaders
This report outlines three key recommendations for leaders as they navigate their organizations through the AI revolution:
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Make room for responsible AI experimentation. The more employees use AI and generative AI regularly, the more they become aware of its benefits, limitations, and risks.
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Invest in regular upskilling. Organizations should invest in regular training to ensure that employees are prepared for changing jobs and successfully perform evolving roles.
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Prioritize building responsible AI programs. Employees want guidance and reassurance that their organization is ethically approaching AI, and leaders want to help shape new AI regulations.
“Responsible AI can not only reduce risk, but also increase innovation and productivity, creating value and competitive advantage for organizations,” said BCG’s chief AI ethics officer and author of the report. Co-author Steven Mills said.
