Generative AI (artificial intelligence) is supposed to heighten productivity, right? Not according to one recent survey. Before we start this blog, let’s preface it with the fact that there is real and true value that generative AI can offer to multiple industries—but we are in the very early stages of it, which means we are still sorting out what it means for businesses. Let’s wade through some of the research to determine how AI is really being used today.
Or if gen AI is actually being used? There are many reports out there citing the wide swaths of people who are already leveraging AI at work. I think we need to be careful. While people may be trialing AI, that doesn’t necessarily mean they are “using” it. Also, there are still many people that don’t use it at all.
Who’s Using AI?
According to data presented by AltIndex.com, ChatGPT is still far from widespread usage, with less than 10% of people who use it daily.
According to YouGov’s survey conducted for the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism in six countries between March and April 2024, only one in ten people use ChatGPT daily. Even respondents in the youngest age group, aged 18 to 24, said they were not using OpenAI’s chatbot regularly.
Most of them, or 18%, use it on a weekly basis. Monthly users comprise 12% of all respondents in this age group; 17% said they have used it only once or twice, while 9% claim they use it daily. This means 44% of Gen Zers and 58% of Millennials have never used ChatGPT. Certainly, there is a difference between causal, heavy, and no usage.
Still, for the portion of the worker population that is already leveraging AI—those early majority users—is the technology delivering the intended results? For some, yes, and for some, no.
Does AI Heighten Productivity?
Data from a recent Upwork survey reveals 96% of C-suite leaders expect AI to boost worker productivity, but 77% of employees report AI has increased their workload. Also, nearly half of employees using AI report they do not know how to achieve the expected productivity gains.
Let’s pause here for a minute. This could be a case of many companies running too fast and too furious implementing new technologies without training people on how to use it and creating a process roadmap for how it will help reach the intended results. This perhaps isn’t surprising. Nearly every nascent technology has seen this same adoption curve.
Here’s the current reality. Employees report spending more time reviewing or moderating AI-generated content (39%), investing more time learning how to use these tools (23%), and being asked to do more work as a direct result of AI (21%).
Certainly, this can all change in the future, as companies become clearer on the core objectives surrounding AI implementation. Training will be essential as we enter a new era of work. Companies must get their ducks in a row if they want AI to deliver on the intended results.
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