As major technology companies, such as LinkedIn and Apple, adopt different AI approaches as part of their global efforts to employ and optimise AI, questions remain as to whether AI will enhance or hinder the workplace. According to Owl Labs’ annual State of Hybrid Work Report, 32% of employees believe that AI will help them do their jobs more efficiently, while a further 22% think AI will create new jobs allowing their teams to grow. However, uncertainty around AI regulation and safety is causing ‘AI anxiety’ to grow, with nearly 1 in 5 UK workers (17%) concerned that AI will steal their jobs. A further 19% are worried that AI has the potential to create new ethical issues in the workplace.
Frank Weishaupt, CEO of Owl Labs comments: “The meteoric rise of ChatGPT has propelled AI tools into a new stratosphere, prompting many businesses to understand how they can use AI to make their operations more efficient or build stronger products. IT leaders must exercise discretion when implementing AI tools, ensuring innovation serves a purpose and allows for current employees’ workload to be streamlined. Clearly communicating company guidelines around the use of AI is essential to building employee trust and reassuring their ‘AI anxiety’.”
There is also an emerging generational divide in attitudes towards AI with Gen Z workers (16-24 years old) most likely to think AI will help them do their job more effectively (37%) and create new roles (29%) compared to those aged 55 and over who are least likely to see the benefits of using AI. However, with AI set to automate more admin tasks, younger workers – who typically shoulder these admin responsibilities – are more concerned that AI will steal their jobs. Over a fifth (21%) of 16-24 year olds are worried that AI will take their jobs compared to only 14% of those aged over 55.
Given that the majority (72%) of employees agree that good tech is key to a successful working life, it’s not just AI tools that workers are keen to adopt in the workplace. More than 1 in 4 UK workers (27%) want to see improved video conferencing tools, while a further 26% want to use AR or mixed reality devices at work. However, only a quarter (25%) of companies have updated their meeting technology in the past year despite 82% of employees reporting that they have lost meeting time due to tech difficulties. This stark disparity highlights a pressing need for companies to bridge the technology gap with tools that exist today and the adoption of AI to further advance their workplaces.
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