A recent study has surfaced showing a growing unease among workers regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace, highlighting concerns about job security and the potential stigma of using AI tools.
What Happened: The “2024 State of AI at Work” report indicates a significant number of workers are concerned about being labeled “lazy” or “frauds” for using AI at work, with many fearing AI could replace human roles, CNBC reported on Friday.
The report was released on Wednesday by AI firm Anthropic and Asana and surveyed 5,007 knowledge workers from the U.S. and U.K. The study found that over a quarter of respondents worry about negative perceptions of using AI in their jobs.
Another 23% fear being seen as “frauds,” while a third are concerned about AI replacing humans. The report suggests that these fears stem from a lack of clear guidelines from companies on the appropriate use of AI in the workplace.
Despite these concerns, the adoption of generative AI tools has risen sharply. In the U.S., 57% of workers now use these tools weekly, up from 46% nine months prior. The U.K. sees similar trends, with current usage at 48%, a significant increase from 29%.
Workers report productivity gains from AI use, with 69% noting improved efficiency. However, 82% of workers say their companies haven’t provided training on using generative AI, potentially exacerbating their concerns.
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There’s also a disconnect between executives and workers regarding AI investment and enthusiasm. While nearly a quarter of executives claim their companies have a budget for AI tools, only 9% of workers are aware of such a budget. Moreover, while over two-thirds of executives are enthusiastic about AI, only half of the workers share this sentiment.
Rebecca Hinds, head of Asana's Work Innovation Lab, emphasizes the need for companies to provide more resources and training to create a “psychologically safe” environment for AI use. She notes that when companies view AI as a teammate rather than just a tool, the perceived threats diminish.
Why It Matters: The apprehension among workers concerning AI in the workplace is not unfounded. Bill Gates recently discussed with Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, the profound impact AI is already having on white-collar jobs, with a significant number of companies replacing staff with AI technology.
An OpenAI engineer also acknowledged the stark reality that AI development could lead to job displacement, stating that there is currently no way to halt the progress of AI in taking over jobs.
On the flip side, AI also presents opportunities for job seekers. Tools like ChatGPT can be leveraged to enhance job searches, which outlines AI’s potential to streamline the job-matching process on platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk predicted a future where AI could render human labor obsolete, leading to a society with universal high income.
Photo by DIA TV on Shutterstock
This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Pooja Rajkumari
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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