AI tools at work: managers underestimate AI use in the company

Employees have integrated AI applications into their day-to-day work faster than managers expected. This is shown by a study by the consulting firm McKinsey. C-level managers assume that four percent of their employees currently use generative AI for around a third of their tasks. However, at 13%, this figure is more than three times higher. At the same time, employees expect to use artificial intelligence even more if they receive support from their companies.

Employees want AI training

Employees also expect to use AI tools more frequently than top management in the near future. 34 percent of employees assume that they will be supported by artificial intelligence for at least 30 percent of their activities in the next twelve months. Managers expect only 16% of their workforce to use AI in this way during this period. A different picture emerges for the next five years. Here, managers expect 56% of their employees to be using AI in this way. Of the employees themselves, only 37 percent believe this to be the case.

To be able to use AI applications even more frequently in their day-to-day work, 48% of the employees surveyed would like their employer to provide formal training on the use of generative AI. The first stage of the EU's AI Act, which came into force on February 2, is likely to benefit employees in this regard – Companies that use AI must therefore also ensure AI competence in their workforce.

45 percent of them consider the seamless integration of AI tools into the existing workflow to be useful. Likewise, 41 percent expect the tools to be made available for increased use of AI, while 40 percent would like to be rewarded accordingly. Just under a third lack clear instructions on the use of artificial intelligence.

At the same time, however, there are also concerns in the workforce about the use of generative AI. More than half of employees see problems with the cybersecurity of artificial intelligence, while 43% believe their privacy is at risk. At the same time, 40 percent of employees fear infringements of intellectual property rights. More than a third are concerned about a declining demand for labor. According to the World Economic Forum, AI is expected to create up to 170 million new jobs by 2030.

Executives: companies are too slow in deploying AI

Around 47 percent of the managers surveyed stated that companies are too slow in implementing AI applications. Just under half of them agree with their employees and classify a lack of AI skills in the company as the main reason for this; 38 percent point to a lack of resources. At the same time, 45 percent of managers consider the pace of companies to be correct. Just under nine percent rate the speed as too fast.

One in five companies does not yet have a strategy for the use of generative AI, although managers say they are currently working on this. A quarter of the companies are already applying the strategy that has been drawn up, while the remaining companies are still making adjustments. In addition, around half of the companies have identified promising applications for artificial intelligence. Just under 40 percent are aware of such applications, but are still unsure as to what added value is possible.

For the study, the authors surveyed almost 240 C-level executives and over 3,600 employees from the areas of corporate development, product management, finance, marketing, sales and technology. Most recently, the company's joint study with the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft showed that four out of five companies lack AI skills.

(sfe)