Use of generative artificial intelligence almost doubles in work environments, reports Microsoft and LinkedIn

A large number of workers around the world want the Artificial intelligence (AI) in their workplaces and its use has almost doubled in the last six months, according to the Work Trends Index report, published this Wednesday by Microsoft and LinkedIn.

The report, titled ‘AI at work is here. Now comes the hard part’, is based on an online survey conducted between February and March 2024 of 31,000 people in 31 countries, added to labor and hiring trends on LinkedIn, productivity data from Microsoft 365 and studies with Fortune clients 500.

The giant Microsoft, which bought LinkedIn in 2016 for $26 billion, has positioned itself as a leader in the field of AI thanks to its multimillion-dollar partnership with OpenAI, the creator of the popular generative AI chatbot ChatGPT, which started the AI ​​boom. this technology at the end of 2022.

Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s chief executive officer, noted that AI “democratizes knowledge across the entire workforce” and said the report released Wednesday highlights the opportunity for companies to apply this technology to make better decisions, collaborate and achieve results. .

Employees “want AI” and don’t wait

The result of that consultation with workers and employers shows how, in just one year, AI is influencing the way people work, lead and hire around the world, says a joint statement.

75% of knowledge workers use generative AI in their work, and among users of this technology, 78% take these tools to their workplace, which is more common in small and medium-sized companies (80%).

According to employees surveyed, AI saves time, stimulates creativity and allows them to focus on their most important work.

The report notes that 53% of those who use it for important tasks worry that it makes them seem replaceable, so some do it in secret.

It also indicates that LinkedIn is seeing a significant increase in professionals adding AI skills to their profiles and the majority of employers say they would not hire someone without AI skills.

However, while 79% of business leaders agree that AI adoption is critical to staying competitive, 59% worry about quantifying the productivity gains of AI, and 60% say their company It lacks a vision and a plan to implement it.

As a result, according to the report’s authors, employees are taking the initiative to bring their own AI tools to work, missing out on the benefits that would come from their large-scale strategic use and putting company data at risk.

AI “breaks the professional ceiling”

Microsoft and LinkedIn acknowledge “job losses” to AI as a concern and suggest their data offers a “nuanced” view on hidden talent shortages, employees considering a career change and an opportunity for those willing to train in AI .

The statement indicates that 46% of professionals worldwide are considering resigning next year, which is an all-time high since “The Great Quit” of 2021, and the numbers for the US are 85%, according to a separate LinkedIn study.

Meanwhile, 66% of business leaders say they would not hire someone without AI skills, but only 39% of workers have received training and just 25% of companies expect to offer it this year, so professionals They are acquiring on their own.

As the use of AI advances, business leaders who are extremely familiar with it see its potential as being as transformative as the move from a typewriter to a computer, the report finds.