AI adoption among desk workers in the United States is declining, according to new data from Slack’s Workforce Index, with adoption rates in the US increasing only slightly over the past three months, from 32% to 33%. This volatility comes despite business leaders’ continued emphasis on the importance of using AI to drive productivity and profitability.
Research shows that discomfort and uncertainty about the use of AI are contributing factors. Nearly half of US workers report that they feel uncomfortable admitting the use of AI to their bosses, fearing that they might be viewed as lazy, incompetent, or even cheating.
The Impact of Standardized AI Adoption on Business Performance
With AI having the potential to increase business profits by up to $4.4 trillion annually, as estimated by McKinsey, companies can’t afford to embrace AI. Salesforce research also highlights that sales teams that use AI are 1.3 times more likely to experience revenue growth. However, for businesses to capture these benefits, employees need support, training, and guidance on how to use AI effectively.
“A lot of the onus is on employees to use AI,” said Christina Janzer, SVP of Research and Analytics at Slack. “To ensure adoption, leaders must not only train employees but also encourage open conversations about AI and support experimentation.”
Employee Reluctance to Use AI in Public
The report reveals that 48% of desk workers feel uncomfortable disclosing the use of AI to their supervisors, with key reasons including:
- Concerns that using AI might be considered cheating
- Fear of being seen as less talented
- Worrying that you are lazy
Employees who feel comfortable discussing the use of AI with their supervisors are 67% more likely to use it for work tasks, suggesting that a supportive culture can increase adoption rates.
Disconnect Between Priorities and Employee Expectations
The Slack Workforce Index also shows the disconnect between top goals and employee expectations. Leaders want employees to use the time saved by AI to innovate and build skills, while employees expect to use that time to tackle administrative tasks and existing projects. The top areas most important to managers include:
- Development and learning
- Composition
- Developing current projects
However, employees expect to use the time saved by AI to:
- General administrative work
- Current main projects
- Building some skills
AI Training Is Behind Labor Demand
Despite skepticism, employees remain eager to learn about AI; 76 percent feel an urgency to be tech savvy. However, training remains limited: 61 percent of employees report spending less than five hours learning AI skills, and 30% received no AI training at all. Workers with an AI guide saw a 13% increase in acquisitions since January, compared to only a 2% increase for those without a guide.
As AI knowledge becomes more mainstream, employees are starting to incorporate AI capabilities into their career choices. The study found that:
- 3 out of 4 employees consider AI tools and empowerment as a factor in choosing a job.
- Almost 2 out of 5 employees prefer companies that offer AI tools.
- Entry-level workers are 1.8 times more likely to view enabling AI as “very important” in their job search.
For companies aiming to retain top talent and remain competitive, providing AI training and establishing clear guidelines may be important steps toward developing an AI-friendly workplace.
Image: Salesforce
