GCC workplace AI adoption reaches 93%

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region leads the world in workplace adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), with 93 per cent of frontline employees utilizing AI several times a week, according to a new report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG). This is significantly higher than the global average of 74 per cent and puts the GCC on par with India among the most advanced adopters of AI in the workplace.

The adoption rate among managers and leaders in the GCC is even higher, at 95 per cent, according to regional findings from BCG's fourth annual AI at Work report, titled "Strategy Matters More Than Tools," which covers the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar.

BCG defines frontline employees as white-collar workers without managerial responsibilities. The survey found that 58 per cent of frontline employees in the GCC reported that AI saves them at least eight hours per week, equivalent to a full working day. Additionally, 67 per cent of managers and leaders in the region experienced similar time savings through AI.

The report also highlights that AI is reshaping expectations around skills, with 85 per cent of GCC frontline employees and 92 per cent of managers and leaders stating that AI has fundamentally changed the skills required for their roles.

While there is optimism about the integration of AI into daily work, concerns about job loss persist. Thirty-eight per cent of frontline employees and 29 per cent of managers and leaders in the GCC expressed worry that AI could potentially eliminate at least half of their job responsibilities within the next three years. Despite these concerns, the overall adoption of AI in the GCC region demonstrates a shift from experimental use to more integrated incorporation into everyday work processes.