The hype around artificial intelligence (AI) is starting to die down, according to new research from Slack.
“For the first time since the advent of generative AI, sentiment and acceptance among desk workers is starting to cool.” Report released on Tuesday state. In August, Slack surveyed more than 17,000 desk workers in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland as part of its Workforce Index. We conducted a survey on the subject. Slack’s Workforce Lab is published regularly.
I’ve also been testing a lot of AI tools for work. These four are what I use almost every day to help me do more, faster.
While 99% of executives surveyed said they would invest in AI this year (97% said they felt “some degree of urgency” to use AI technology), employees are no longer as enthusiastic. do not have. Here’s why:
social and professional norms
According to the study, 48% of desk workers said their boss knew they were using AI for “common workplace tasks” such as messaging, writing code, brainstorming, and data analysis. They feel uncomfortable and cite fear of being seen as cheating or being seen as lazy or incompetent.
It’s built on Slack previous research A survey from June revealed that employees are not always sure how they are allowed to use AI in the workplace. This concern contributes significantly to employees’ reluctance to accept the use of AI, with only 21% of respondents citing restrictive company AI policies as a deterrent.
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Christina Janzer, Head of Slack’s Workforce Lab, said, “Our research shows that even if AI allows them to complete a task faster and more efficiently, many people still refuse to use it. You don’t want your boss to know.” “Leaders need this technology not only in the business context of “Can I get the job done as quickly and efficiently as possible?” but also in the social context of “What will people think if they know I’ve used this?” What tools can help? ”
Additionally, the findings present an interesting behavioral challenge in AI adoption. This has more to do with cultural perceptions than its expected (and actual) impact. The report also predicts that Gen Z and Millennials will be the most comfortable with the use of AI, putting them at risk of the technology “deteriorating social connections.” According to Slack, 81% of AI users seek advice from AI tools rather than colleagues or friends.
Decreased excitement and lack of preparation
From September 2023 to March 2024, global AI adoption increased to approximately one-third of all desk workers, the report explains. However, growth has slowed in the past three months. “In France, we saw an increase of just 2 percentage points, from 31% to 33% of desk workers experimenting with AI. Meanwhile, in the United States, we saw an increase of just 1 percentage point, from 32% to 33% of desk workers. only an increase was observed,” the report said.
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Globally, reported excitement fell from 47% to 41%, and much of that can be attributed to Slack. In recent months, the number of workers who say they are enthusiastic about using AI has fallen from 45% to 36%. In France, the change was even more dramatic, with enthusiasm plummeting 12%, from 53% to 41%.
In contrast to the dominant discourse on the value of AI in work, Slack found that employees want AI to “refocus their time on meaningful activities.” However, he doubts that AI will lead to increased workloads and workloads. Many AI companies and businesses implementing agent systems, copilots, and other forms of AI-powered workflow automation are using this technology to free up time and keep busy, as well as AI tools focused on personal productivity. This is characterized as a reduction in work.
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However, proper setup can sometimes be an issue. According to the report, “A continued lack of training continues to hinder the adoption of AI, with 61% of desk workers spending less than five hours total learning how to use AI.” Most desk workers ( 76%) report an urgent need to upskill due to industry trends or personal career goals.
Ironically, Slack found that skill building and learning were the top activities that “desk workers wish had more time to focus on AI.”
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This change was in some ways expected given Gartner’s technology hype cycle. But Slack said that in addition to a lack of upskilling training, there are other reasons why excitement is waning, including “surrounding uncertainty and discomfort with AI standards” and “a recognition that AI has not yet lived up to the hype.” states that it has been identified.
Based on this research, Slack recommends leaders make the most of their employees’ existing motivation by investing in AI training, even in 10-minute increments, in what Slack calls “AI microlearning.” I’m doing it. The report also suggests creating clear policy guidelines for the use of AI to ensure employees don’t get lost.
