According to the EY – European AI Barometer study, the majority (73%) of employees have had contact with artificial intelligence (AI), but less than half (44%) are improving their skills in this area. Simultaneously, the majority (67%) of respondents indicate that the complexity of the implementation process is a deterrent to the adoption of AI in their companies. Despite this, as many as 68% of respondents believe that the introduction of AI-based tools could lead to a reduction in employment.
The EY study reveals that the vast majority of people (73%) have already dealt with AI technology. Four in ten (38%) encountered it in private life, 12% only professionally, and 23% had experiences in both areas. AI-based tools are much more popular among managerial staff (84%) than among lower-level employees (67%).
Despite the familiarity with AI-based tools, implementation of this technology in businesses still faces many issues. One of them being the company’s restrictive internal policies. Only a little over half (52%) of the employees surveyed are allowed to use AI at work. The other barrier is the high complexity of the implementation process – 67% of those surveyed indicated this as a problem in the implementation of AI in the company. However, companies are already facing another challenge in the process of implementing AI in the organization – ensuring compliance with legal regulations.
As a result of the above findings, the question arises whether AI is an opportunity or a threat for employees?
Almost half of the managers (45%) who have implemented AI in their company admit that after the implementation, a noticeable increase in revenue, cost reduction or both phenomena can be observed. Companies show improvements in areas like IT (35%), marketing (30%), and cybersecurity (27%).
However, this positive data does not translate into a reduction in the fears of employees. As many as 68% of respondents claim that the use of AI will mean less demand for employees. This shows how much work there is still to be done by management. Despite over a year and a half since the proliferation of AI-based tools – such as chatbots – the perception of AI as a threat, not an opportunity, is still prevalent among non-executive employees.
Beyond this, the question also arises whether companies are ready for the AI revolution?
Less than half (42%) of the surveyed managers believe that their company has sufficient knowledge to implement and effectively use AI. The only countries where a majority of respondents answered this question affirmatively were Switzerland (58%) and Italy (52%). At the same time, more than half of the employees (56%) responded that they do not enhance their skills in AI. Among the rest, 16% are self-improving, 16% – professionally, and 12% use both methods. The managerial staff (62%) more often raises their skills in this area compared to lower-level employees (36%).
About the survey:
The EY – European AI Barometer survey was conducted in March 2024 among 4,741 respondents in nine European countries: Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, and Switzerland. The aim of the study was to assess the current state of AI implementation in companies in various industries, to identify the challenges associated with AI implementation, to understand the potential and actual benefits of such implementation, and to explore the impact of AI on employees.
Source: https://ceo.com.pl/badanie-ey-68-pracownikow-obawia-sie-ze-ai-moze-wplynac-na-redukcje-zatrudnienia-18286
