AI could do half their job, 60% of GCC workers say

In the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar, six out of ten frontline employees anticipate that AI agents could handle at least half of their job duties within the next three years, according to the Boston Consulting Group's latest AI at Work report. Currently, 93% of these workers utilize AI multiple times per week, with usage even higher among managers and leaders at 95%, placing the GCC among the leading markets for AI adoption in the workplace.

The adoption of AI technology is evident in time savings, with 58% of frontline employees reporting AI saves them at least eight hours weekly, rising to 67% among managers and leaders. The expected skills from workers are also evolving, with 85% of frontline employees noting AI has altered the skills demanded of them, and the figure reaching 92% among managers and leaders.

Robert Xu, Managing Director and Partner at BCG X, attributes the GCC's high AI adoption to a workforce that has moved beyond experimentation to real integration. GCC organizations that lead in AI adoption invest significantly in their people, leading to productivity gains and turning technological advantage into a competitive edge. Additionally, 69% of frontline employees across the GCC report increased job satisfaction after adopting AI, which rises to 77% among managers and leaders.

While AI adoption is reducing toil and increasing job satisfaction, leaders must anticipate organizational shifts by implementing comprehensive change management and redesigning workflows. Workers are taking on more responsibilities without additional compensation, and AI skills can lead to up to a 92% higher salary, according to a PwC study. Concern over job loss remains low, with only 28% of frontline employees and 29% of managers and leaders expressing fear of AI replacing their positions.

Despite the promising rapid adoption of AI, there is a gap between the time AI saves employees and how companies guide them in using the recovered time. Globally, 42% of frontline employees who regularly use AI save an entire working day or more weekly, but only 66% receive limited or no guidance on how to redirect that time. More than half of these employees do not use the saved time for strategic work.

To sustain the promising initial phase of AI adoption, deliberate leadership action is essential, building proper core operating models and governance structures to convert individual productivity gains from AI into organizational benefits.