Half of GenAI Users Fear Job Loss in the Next Decade

Nearly half of all Generative AI (GenAI) users believe their job may disappear in the next ten years due to the development of AI.  

The finding is revealed in survey results published by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), which looked at employees’ perspectives on AI. The data reveals a mix of both optimism and anxiety. 

The AI at Work: Friend and Foe report included over 13,000 workers across 15 countries. The data shows 42% of respondents felt confident about the positive impact of these technologies on their work, which is a remarkable increase from 26% in the previous year’s survey.  

BCG revealed percentages of users who agreed on the following benefits of GenAI: 

• Saved them time – 84%  
• Increased their speed – 83%  
• Improved the quality of their work – 81%  
• Freed up time for more strategic work – 81%  
• Decreased the time they spend on administrative tasks – 80%  

This surge in confidence is mirrored by the increased adoption of GenAI throughout the workforce, especially among frontline employees. BCG found that 43% of frontline employees report using the technology regularly. 

The survey, however, also uncovers a large portion of users who fear job displacement in the upcoming years: 49% of regular GenAI users believe that their jobs could disappear within the next decade due to these technological advancements.  

This concern is much lower among workers who don’t use AI — of which only 24% share this view.  

The report also highlights the geographical differences in attitudes towards GenAI. Respondents from countries including Brazil, India, Nigeria, and South Africa, show more optimism and less anxiety compared to those in the U.K., Belgium, Netherlands, U.S., and Japan. 

Amid these mixed emotions, 64% of leaders say they are implementing these tools into their organizations. 

Surveyed leaders said the top five challenges today are:  

1. Lack of AI and GenAI literacy in non-tech roles  
2. Uncertainty about when to use GenAI  
3. Lack of AI and GenAI technology talent  
4. Cost of implementing and running GenAI  
5. Lack of AI/GenAI-specific pilots in the rollout process 

However, this differed from the top five challenges anticipated within the next five years, with costs being the number one challenge cited by leaders:  

1. Cost of implementing and running GenAI  
2. Difficulty redeploying workers effectively  
3. Difficulty changing workflows  
4. Lack of funds/budget for any innovation investment  
5. Lack of AI and GenAI literacy in non-tech roles 

The data suggests that organizations should integrate GenAI carefully and consider employee concerns. Experts also stress the importance of retraining/upskilling employees, reshaping organizational structures, and focusing on activities that impact both productivity and job satisfaction.