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The rise of generative AI in the world of work worries many professionals who fear their jobs are under threat. Despite these concerns, a new study shows that executives are optimistic about this change and are confident that humans will remain at the forefront of the workforce.
As part of this survey, conducted by Economist Impact and commissioned by Google Workspace, 900 executives were questioned – in four regions and seven different industries, between April and May 2023 – about the new era of flexible working, and in particular on emerging technologies such as generative AI.
AI in support
Of the 900 executives surveyed, 86% believe that artificial intelligence can eliminate simple tasks and, therefore, help increase worker innovation and creativity. Additionally, 84% believe AI can provide greater flexibility for workers with manual tasks, such as frontline workers.
For example, positions that currently require employees to be on-site, such as operating a production line, could have the opportunity to transition to remote employment. Indeed, employees would then be able to remotely operate and supervise robots and detection equipment supported by AI. In this case, generative AI would not replace an employee’s job, it would shift it to less physically demanding tasks and a more flexible position.
That’s why 86% of executives surveyed believe humans will remain at the center of the workplace, with AI providing support. 84% even expect an improvement in the quality of these jobs.
For Ben Armstrong, executive director of the Industrial Performance Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, “humans will remain at the center, and AI tools will provide quality control and a boost to productivity.”
An investment in technology and training
However, for the future of work to follow this evolution, companies must go beyond simple investment in new technologies. Successfully scaling jobs in this direction will require training and reskilling the workforce to prepare them to harness the power of AI and other emerging technologies.
“With the growing presence of AI, there will be an increasing need to develop skills,” says Anita Woolley, professor at the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University. “Organizations will need employees with specific skills to fully exploit the capabilities of AI that can facilitate flexible working. »
In this scenario, even though it involves reskilling, workers will retain their jobs and play a critical role in the successful implementation of artificial intelligence.
Source: ZDNet.com