According to Fisher & Phillips LLP, a new report released by Microsoft and LinkedIn from May 8, 2024 states that 75% of knowledge workers use AI for work purposes and over half of them don’t disclose it to leadership since they fear they’ll be perceived as replaceable.

The report proves the untapped potential around AI use within organizations and how its use would enhance productivity, efficiency, and creativity. Below are the report’s key findings and steps to leverage the undisclosed AI capabilities within your team.

Key Findings

  1. Rapid adoption of AI. 75% of knowledge workers are incorporating AI into their work routines, with 46% initiating usage within the past six months.
  2. Wide adoption across age groups. All generations, from Boomers to Gen Z, are embracing AI tools at work by at least 73%.
  3. Employees are relying on AI for a wide variety of tasks. Most workers use AI to save time (90%), concentrate on more important work (85%), increase creativity (84%), and enhance their personal job satisfaction (83%). Over half use AI even on their most critical tasks (52%).
  4. High concealment of AI use. 53% of employees are not disclosing their AI use for work purposes to leadership, fearing their job security may be threatened.
  5. Leadership concerns. 79% of corporate leaders acknowledge the importance of AI use and training to maintain competitiveness, yet only 25% are planning to provide AI training in 2024. Moreover, almost half are not investing in AI tools for their workforce. There are still concerns around the effective quantification of productivity gains (59%) and the adequacy of corporate AI strategies (60%).

 

Steps You Can Take to Eliminate The Stigma Of Disclosing AI Use In The Workplace

  1. Cultivate an AI-Inclusive Environment. Promote a culture that supports AI application in the workplace as a value-adding asset rather than a threat to job stability. Encourage open discussions, share success stories, and openly recognize teams leveraging AI.
  2. Champion Transparency. Supporting transparency in AI use will create an environment where employees feel comfortable disclosing its use.
  3. Formalize AI Training. Implement training programs to properly equip team members with AI skills by setting mandatory workshops, online courses, and certifications.
  4. Invest in AI Infrastructure. Show your company you’re committed to productive AI use by investing in AI tools aligned with organizational objectives. Empower a set team, potentially IT, to evaluate and deploy suitable AI tools that adhere to your company’s security and compliance standards.
  5. Measure and Showcase AI Impact. Quantify and share the positive impact that AI has on your team’s productivity and efficiency. Regularly share metrics to reinforce your commitment to AI adoption.
  6. Hire Talent Familiar With AI Use. Attract AI savvy talent by emphasizing your organization’s commitment to AI adoption in your job posts. Collaborate with recruitment teams to identify and onboard candidates with AI proficiency.
  7. Address Ethical and Legal Compliance Concerns. Make compliance and data security your top priority. Develop and update ethical AI use guidelines that comply with industry standards and legal regulations. Foster transparent collaboration between your legal and technical experts to ensure your company uses AI responsibly.

 

By adopting these measures, you can mitigate the stigma around AI usage, maximize the productive potential of your workforce, and lead your company to sustainable growth and innovation.