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From ChatGPT to DALL-E and all the technologies in between , the new wave of generative artificial intelligence , GenAI systems is transforming business at a rapid pace . While employees are optimistic about how AI – and generative AI , in particular – will affect their work , feelings vary considerably by seniority and by country , according to new research released by Boston Consulting Group , BCG .
The research , titled AI at Work : What People Are Saying , is based on a survey of more than 12,800 employees from the executive suite to the front lines across industries in 18 countries around the world , to understand how the evolution of AI has impacted the workplace .
“ GenAI is a rapidly evolving space , and its transformative impact is already being felt in workplaces around the world ,” said Nicolas De Bellefonds , Global Leader of AI and Software at BCG X , BCG ’ s tech build and design unit , and co-author of the research .
Within organisations , senior leaders , who are more frequent users of generative AI , are more optimistic and less concerned about it than frontline employees . While 62 % of leaders are optimistic about AI , only 42 % of frontline employees share that view . And 62 % of regular users of generative AI are optimistic about it , compared with 36 % of non-users .
“ We are launching the Centre for Responsible Generative AI to support our clients and partners as they leverage and build next generation AI-powered solutions to drive positive impact and competitive advantage , while also informing new ways of working , upskilling talent , change management , and culture .”
When asked about AI ’ s impact on work , 52 % of all respondents ranked optimism as one of their top two sentiments , a 17-point jump from 2018 when this survey was last conducted . Concern saw the steepest decline compared with five years ago , falling from 40 % to 30 %.
Vinciane Beauchene , BCG Managing Director , Partner
A majority of leaders , 80 % report that they use generative AI tools regularly , compared with just 20 % of frontline employees . Further , frontline employees made up the largest percentage of nonusers , 60 % of generative AI tools overall .
Sentiments about AI in the workplace also vary by geography . The most optimistic are Brazil , 71 %, India , 60 %, and the Middle East , 58 %. Meanwhile , the least optimistic are the US , 46 %, the Netherlands , 44 %, and Japan , 40 %. The geographies most concerned about AI are the Netherlands , 42 %, France , 41 %, and Japan , 38 %, while the least concerned are the Middle East , 25 %, Brazil , 19 %, and India , 14 %.
36 % of respondents think that their job is likely to be eliminated by AI . To prepare for the new era of AI at work , 86 % of respondents believe they will need training to sharpen their skills . However , only 14 % of frontline employees say they have gone through any upskilling training to date , compared with 44 % of leaders .
Nicolas De Bellefonds , Global Leader of AI and Software , BCG X
“ The companies that capture the most value from AI follow the 10-20-70 rule : 10 % of their AI effort goes to designing algorithms , 20 % to building the underlying technologies , and 70 % to supporting people and adapting business processes ,” said Vinciane Beauchene , BCG Managing Director , Partner and coauthor of the research .
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