In the past quarter, workplace adoption of AI surged by 24%, with one in four employees turning to AI tools for assistance, as revealed by a comprehensive Slack survey encompassing over 10,000 desk workers worldwide. As this adoption trend continues, employee sentiments exhibit a diverse spectrum. While over 40% of employees eagerly anticipate AI’s takeover of mundane tasks, more than a quarter harbour reservations. For another third, their feelings about AI growth remain neutral.
Among those who have embraced AI, an impressive 80% of desk workers believe that leveraging this technology is already enhancing their productivity. The most common applications include writing assistance, workflow automation, and content summarization.
However, as AI permeates daily workflows, organizational leaders may underestimate the importance of change management. Preparing employees to effectively wield these tools requires more than just technical proficiency. Sunil Senan, Global Head of Data, Analytics, and AI at Infosys, emphasizes the need to cultivate a culture of agility, innovation, and experimentation. Soft skills, such as interpersonal communication and teamwork, now play an even more pivotal role.
Infosys isn’t alone in recognizing the significance of soft skills. LinkedIn’s recent report highlights that communication, analytical abilities, and leadership are the most sought-after soft skills in current job postings for engineers. Employers also value problem-solving acumen and effective teamwork.
As AI becomes woven into the fabric of daily operations, executives anticipate gains in productivity, innovation, and efficiency. They envision AI enhancing decision-making and user experiences. However, organizations lacking clear training strategies and policies risk falling behind. Shockingly, nearly half of desk workers report receiving no guidance from their bosses or organizations on how to effectively utilize AI tools at work.
Senan underscores the need for widespread AI awareness. It’s not just about training the experts who build AI systems; the broader community of users must also be well-versed. In this AI-driven landscape, fostering a talent pool equipped with both technical and soft skills is paramount.
