Ryan FowlerA new report from Ivanti has highlighted a significant gap between office workers’ perceptions and employers’ promotions of generative AI’s benefits in the workplace.
According to Ivanti’s “Getting Employees on Board for the AI Revolution Report,” which is part of the company’s Digital Employee Experience series, office workers are six times more likely to believe that generative AI primarily benefits employers rather than employees.
The study shows that 36% of IT workers are very concerned about the potential of AI tools to replace their jobs within the next five years, a concern that is 17% higher than among other office workers. While company leaders praise AI for its potential to automate mundane tasks and enhance employee productivity, only 10% of office workers believe AI will significantly improve their productivity.
Dr. Srinivas Mukkamala, chief product officer at Ivanti, emphasised the need for clear communication about AI strategies and their impact on employees. “Companies can’t afford to shy away from this topic,” he said. “Executives need to be clear in their communication about AI strategy and how it impacts the future of the employee experience, productivity, and career progression.”
The report suggests that as companies race to adopt AI, they must ensure that IT workers are involved in setting the agenda for AI use, particularly where it impacts IT operations and security preparedness. Mukkamala also highlighted the importance of establishing trust and security measures around AI to protect data from misuse and ensure AI system resilience.
This analysis is based on two surveys conducted by Ivanti in the first half of 2023, which collectively sampled opinions from 16,200 executive leaders, IT professionals, and office workers.
