Study: Employees perceive AI as extra work and a stress factor
Instead of the desired efficiency, employees surveyed in a study stated that AI did not help them - on the contrary, it hindered them.
Ostrich pillow for the desk power worker
(Image: Studio Banana Things)
Artificial intelligence as a burnout driver? According to a survey, many people feel this way. 77 percent of 2,500 respondents said that AI had increased their workload even more - although the figures differed depending on people's position. AI providers and start-ups usually suggest that AI would increase the efficiency of workers and relieve them of unpleasant and boring tasks. This expectation also often prevails in management positions.
Forbes reports on the Upwork study. It also states: "The study found a discrepancy between managers' high expectations and employees' actual experience with AI." 96 percent of people in upper management (C-suite) said AI would increase productivity. But 77 percent of employees said AI had only added to their workload. It is therefore challenging to get results that match the expected productivity. Ultimately, AI even contributes to employees suffering burnout.
47 percent of the employees surveyed in the study said they did not know how to achieve the required productivity. 40 percent said their employers demanded too much when it came to AI. One in three respondents even said they would consider changing jobs because they felt overworked and burnt out. The majority of managers (81 percent) are aware that the challenges for employees have increased in the past year.
AI requires new structures and appreciation
One author of the study, Kelly Monahan, says: "Our research shows that the introduction of new technologies into outdated working models and systems cannot unlock the full expected productivity value of AI." In order to use AI, structures need to be changed and attention paid to the well-being of employees. To avoid companies losing employees, managers need to take a new approach to skills and talent development. For example, they need to rethink how productivity is measured in the first place.
The study was conducted by Upwork, a platform that brings freelancers and companies together. Upwork is also a partner of OpenAI. An initial study on the use of AI in companies was published last year. At that time, the focus was primarily on employees' concerns and fears - and how managers should take them seriously.
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