UK Employees Divided on AI's Impact in the Workplace: Efficiency Gains vs. Implementation Challenges

Seven in 10 UK employees believe AI is reshaping the workplace

In brief: Artificial intelligence and related technologies are already having a major impact on the workforce. According to a new report out of the UK, a full 70 percent of employees believe AI is having a positive impact on the workplace. Of course, not everyone is buying into the AI hype. A survey of more than 4,000 UK workers found that 38 percent believe AI is directly responsible for increased efficiency in the workplace, while one in three said it enhances productivity. Most workers - 84 percent - believe the positive effects of AI and related technologies will persist, and that seems to be backed up by support from employers. The study, commissioned by WSP in partnership with Savanta, found that nearly three out of four (72 percent) employees feel their employers are providing the necessary resources to help them get the most out of AI. In sectors like communications (78 percent) and manufacturing (80 percent), support is even stronger. While handy in certain situations, the use - or overuse - of AI in other scenarios can easily cause more problems than it solves. Coca Cola, for example, recently came under fire for collaborating with AI studios to create its 2024 holiday ad spot. Critics say the resulting spot feels soul-less, and that the beverage maker attempted to cut corners by using AI instead of animators or real-life actors in an effort to save time and money. AI is reshaping other forms of media as well, but it's still too early to know what sort of impact it could have on the creative process. One example is Fugatto, a budding AI sound model that Nvidia claims could transform audio production. Among its many features, Fugatto can create a tune based solely on text, change the emotion in a singer's voice or modify their accent, and even add or remove instruments from an existing song. It can also create sounds that have never been heard before. While that sounds incredibly impressive in theory, it also has the potential to put an entire subset of working professionals out of business in the blink of an eye.

AI impact is only minor in many workplaces, employees believe

Manufacturing, transport and communications offer strong resources Despite widespread hope that artificial intelligence could revolutionize workplaces with productivity and efficiency improvements, new research by WSP has revealed that the impact might not be as stark as we'd hoped. Although 70% of UK workers said that AI influences their jobs, only 38% noted improvements to their efficiency, and 33% to their productivity. Furthermore, fewer than half (47%) feel equipped to adapt to AI-driven workplace changes, highlighting the need for greater training efforts. Despite the current state of AI, 84% of workers believe that the positive effects of AI will continue, with many expecting to see efficiency (41%) and productivity (37%) boosts. Nearly three in four (72%) workers saying that their companies provide resources to help them adapt. This support is most evident in sectors where AI already has a strong foothold or where it can offer the biggest changes, such as manufacturing (80%) and transport and communications (78%). WSP Data Science Director Dan Scott commented: "While employees recognise the benefits of AI, a significant gap exists between their expectations and current practices. It is essential for organisations to adopt AI technologies effectively and empower their workforce with the skills and vision needed to lead us into a future brimming with possibilities." Besides AI, the research also touches on sustainability, revealing that more than half (52%) of the 4,000 UK workers surveyed are willing to re-train to adapt their skills for greener roles. Many workers also said they'd be prepared to stay in their role longer (45%) or seek a different job (38%) on the basis of sustainability credentials. With the correct deployment, AI has the potential to reduce a company's carbon footprint, however it can also be an environmental challenge when the power-hungry data centers that power AI tools come into the picture. Looking ahead, it's clear that companies must align their employee support and training with organizational policies and emerging technologies to strike the right balance.