With the launch of ChatGPT from Open.AI at the end of 2022 followed by Microsoft 365 Copilot shortly thereafter and other generative AI tools, organizations and their employees started to get a real sense of what modern AI can do and the profound impact it could have on organizations of all sizes.
Fast forward to today and the promise has evolved into reality and has changed and will continue to change the workplace.
Adoption of Generative AI in the Workplace
Are employees using AI solutions? The answer is overwhelmingly yes whether the organization has officially adopted generative AI solutions or not, as evidenced by the statistics below.
- In the 2024 Work Trend Index Annual Report from Microsoft and LinkedIn, 75% of knowledge workers, defined as those who typically work at a desk, use AI at work.
- 90% of these knowledge workers said AI helps them save time.
- 85% said it allowed them to focus on their most important work.
- A further 84% said it helped them be more creative.
The takeaway here is, knowledge workers are adopting AI in their daily work, and they are seeing significant value from using the tools in their daily tasks.
In the same report, 78% of AI users said they brought their own AI tools to work. That number increases to 80% for AI users in small and medium sized organizations.
Why are employees bringing their own AI tools to work? The main reasons include:
- The volume of work
- The speed of work
- Email inundation and
- Meetings and after-hours work
For organizations, the issue with the bring your own AI tool to work scenario is that they lose the opportunity to strategically leverage the benefits AI brings. In addition, this opens the organization to cybersecurity and data privacy issues. It comes down to the fact that in the above scenario, organizations are not vetting the AI tools being used and it is not providing employees with the guardrails and policies for data privacy and the secure usage of these tools.
How is AI Adoption Impacting the Labour Market?
We have established that AI is being used by employees (officially or unofficially) in organizations. However, the labour market is also being influenced by AI and impacting the workplace from both the employee and employer perspective.
Let’s start with the employee perspective.
Employees recognize that, for the most part, AI isn’t replacing their jobs but transforming them to something that has yet to be created. Taking this into account, employees are preparing for this transformation by:
- Recognizing that they need to add AI skills to their toolbox.
- Taking professional development into their own hands by training themselves on AI solutions and skills.
- Adding any acquired AI skills to their CVs.
- Looking for employment opportunities offering AI tools and training.
For employers, the talent shortage continues to be an issue. Employers are also recognizing that AI is or will transform the workplace. This is leading employers to:
- Lean towards people with generative AI skills when hiring.
- Require AI skills in their job postings.
- Hire less experienced candidates with AI skills.
- Recognize that offering AI access provides the ability to attract and retain high-caliber talent.
How is all of this affecting the workplace? At the same time as the best talent is skilling up and improving their knowledge and use of AI tools, organizations are recognizing that investing in AI and developing an AI strategy will help retain and attract the best talent.
Recommendations for Organizations
For organizations looking for direction on how to leverage the AI revolution, here are four recommendations that can help get started.
- Develop an AI strategy
- Invest in Data Governance
- Develop AI Use Policies
- Invest and Prioritize Training and Development Programs
Conclusion
By now it should be clear that generative AI solutions are transforming the workplace.
Employees are using AI tools (with or without their employer’s backing) to better perform in their jobs and to prepare for future jobs.
Forward thinking organizations are leveraging AI solutions to retain and attract top talent to position the organization for success.
MicroAge can help you with your generative AI strategies and implementation. Contact us today for a conversation on how we can help.
Share