A huge amount of employees are being encouraged to use AI at work - but most still don’t know why

A recent survey conducted globally by Culture Amp reveals that 85% of employees are being encouraged to utilize AI in their work, yet a significant 42% remain uncertain as to the reasons behind this adoption. This lack of clarity has sparked concerns regarding corporate strategies involving AI technology. The survey, which encompassed 112,000 responses from 123 businesses worldwide, underscores a notable disconnect between corporate AI strategies and communication between managers and their teams.

While the survey indicates that employees perceive the advantages of AI, such as increased productivity and motivation, the primary question remains unanswered: why is AI being implemented? This disconnect appears to be centered around managerial communication and corporate strategy around AI. The research, described by Culture Amp as a benchmark for the inaugural publication in a series, highlights that the impact of AI on workforces and individual roles is still in its early stages.

Amy Lavoie, VP of People Science at Culture Amp, notes that employees are acknowledging the risks associated with AI, effectively employing the tools, and reporting increased productivity. However, this workforce does not appear to be resisting change. Instead, they have completed their part and are now awaiting guidance from leadership.

The lack of decisive direction from management may not solely be the fault of individual managers; in some instances, the corporate direction for AI use may still be under development, with leaders waiting for clearer instructions before communicating to their teams.

Lavoie emphasizes that leaders must not provide false certainty but rather convey a candid approach by acknowledging that the plan surrounding AI implementation is still in progress. This candor would be more beneficial to employees than vague assurances. The survey concludes that the most constructive action for leaders at present is to openly admit the unfinished nature of the AI implementation plan and continue communicating transparently with their teams.