Redefining productivity: Realities of AI at work

2024 marked a pivotal year for AI in the workplace. The use of generative AI has grown significantly, with 75% of global knowledge workers now using it. Employees, overwhelmed by the pace and volume of work, are bringing their own AI tools to the office. While leaders recognize AI as a business imperative, many feel their organizations lack a clear plan to leverage AI for significant business impact. The pressure to show immediate ROI is causing hesitation, even as AI becomes inevitable.¹

Moving from Experimentation to Transformation

We've reached a challenging phase of tech disruption: transitioning from experimentation to business transformation. Just as the internet and PCs revolutionized business, AI's broad adoption will drive growth, manage costs, and deliver greater value to customers. Organizations that embrace AI will pull ahead.¹

AI's Impact on the Labor Market

The labor market is set to shift again, with AI playing a major role. Despite fears of job loss, leaders report a talent shortage for key roles. As more employees consider career moves, AI aptitude is becoming as valuable as experience. For many, AI will raise the bar and break the career ceiling; 71% of leaders say they’d rather hire a less experienced candidate with AI skills than a more experienced candidate without them.¹

Insights from Microsoft and LinkedIn 

To help leaders and organizations overcome AI inertia, Microsoft and LinkedIn surveyed 31,000 people across 31 countries, analyzed LinkedIn labor and hiring trends, and examined Microsoft 365 productivity signals . The findings offer crucial insights and actions for leaders and professionals regarding AI's implications for work.

Finding 1: Employees Want AI at Work

AI is being integrated into the workplace at an unexpected scale. 75% of knowledge workers use AI at work, with 46% starting in the last six months. Users report that AI helps them save time, focus on important tasks, be more creative, and enjoy their work more.

However, the pressure to show immediate ROI is inhibiting leadership adoption support. While 79% agree AI is necessary to stay competitive, 59% worry about quantifying productivity gains. This uncertainty is stalling progress, with 60% of leaders concerned about their organization's lack of a clear AI plan.

Without top-down guidance, employees are taking matters into their own hands. 78% of users bring their own AI tools to work, a trend even more common in small and medium-sized companies. Yet, 52% are reluctant to admit using AI for important tasks, fearing it makes them look replaceable.

This approach risks missing out on strategic AI benefits and puts company data at risk, especially as cybersecurity and data privacy remain top concerns.

Finding 2: AI Raises the Bar and Breaks the Career Ceiling

AI is beginning to impact the job market. While concerns about job loss persist, the data reveals a talent shortage and significant opportunities for those willing to skill up on AI. Leaders are hiring, with 55% concerned about having enough talent to fill roles.

Leaders across industries  are prioritizing AI skills, with 66% unwilling to hire someone without them. Junior candidates may have an edge, as 77% of leaders believe AI will give early-career talent greater responsibilities. However, many leaders are not investing in AI tools or training for their employees, creating a training deficit.

Professionals are not waiting for official guidance—they're skilling up on their own. 76% say they need AI skills to remain competitive, and 69% believe AI can help them get promoted faster. LinkedIn Learning courses on AI have seen a 160% spike among non-technical professionals.

Finding 3: The Rise of the AI Power User

Four types of AI users emerged: skeptics, novices, explorers, and power users. Power users, who are extremely familiar with AI, use it extensively and save significant time. They report that AI makes their workload more manageable, boosts creativity, and helps them focus on important tasks.

Power users develop new habits, frequently experimenting with AI and integrating it into their daily routines. They also reorient their work patterns, using AI to catch up on missed meetings, analyze information, design visual content, and brainstorm.

Power users thrive in organizations where senior leaders promote AI use, company culture encourages innovation, and tailored training is provided.

Key Takeaways

Leaders have the opportunity to channel employee enthusiasm for AI into business transformation. Here's how to get started:

1. Identify a business problem, then apply AI: Focus on a specific process and apply AI to improve it. For example, SoftwareOne can help organizations enhance customer service by using AI-powered chat assistants to provide faster, more accurate responses to customer inquiries.
2. Take a top-down, bottom-up approach: Engage all levels of the organization, from the CEO to entry-level employees. Business gains will come from activating teams around AI. There are AI champions in every corner of the organization who will promote its use and help their colleagues embrace its potential.
3. Prioritize training: Provide ongoing training on AI tools and their applications. SoftwareOne helps organizations design training programs and provides valuable resources for upskilling your workforce.