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New data suggests desk workers are increasingly turning to AI and automation tools to improve their productivity and streamline daily tasks.
A recent survey conducted by the Workforce Lab from Slack, reveals that AI use in the workplace has increased by 24%, with 1 in 4 desk workers reporting that they have tried AI tools for work as of January 2024. The updated figures suggest a fast increase in professionals adopting AI. For comparison, Slack’s September 2023 data revealed only 1 in 5 desk workers reported to have tried the technology.
The survey collected data across multiple countries and included over 10,000 desk workers. The research also reveals that 80% of those who have used AI and automation tools report improvements in their productivity.
The most valuable AI applications cited by workers include writing assistance, workflow automation, and content summarization.
According to the survey’s findings, “Many desk workers are enthusiastic about AI’s potential to improve their on-the-job effectiveness, with 42% saying they are excited about the idea of AI handling tasks from their current job. At the same time, 27% say that they are concerned about these tools handling common workplace tasks, and an additional 31% are in wait-and-see mode, saying their feelings are neutral.”
Despite this relatively positive feedback from employees, there remains a gap in guidance from employers — with less than half of the surveyed workers reporting that they have received instructions on how to effectively utilize and incorporate AI tools into their workflows.
From a leadership point of view, the data shows executives share a sense of urgency to integrate AI into their organizations. 50% report a high degree of urgency. However, concerns related to data security, privacy, and the reliability of AI outputs are still very prominent among leadership.
The top concerns from executives that are preventing them from welcoming AI into their organizations are:
- Data security and privacy (44% of respondents)
- AI reliability and accuracy (36%)
- Lack of expertise and skill gap among staff (25%)
- Ethical and compliance issues (17%)
- Customer trust and acceptance (17%)
- Cost of implementation and maintenance (16%)
The findings from Slack’s research also point to a clear opportunity for AI and automation to reduce the burden of what is termed as the “work of work,” or, “tasks that are low-value and repetitive,” which reportedly consumes 41% of desk workers’ time. By addressing these repetitive tasks with AI tools, employees could redirect their focus towards more strategic and impactful activities, the study suggests.
As AI continues to reshape the modern workplace, it becomes increasingly important for companies to establish structured guidelines and company policies addressing AI. The fast rate of adoption by desk workers also highlights the need to provide adequate training to ensure their workforce is prepared for widespread adoption of AI around the world.
