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AI in the Workplace: Skepticism Among Candidates
Despite promises of greater efficiency, many job seekers doubt that AI can simplify their daily tasks
Editorial Team21 November 2024

 

Despite the growing enthusiasm for AI in the corporate world, many job seekers are skeptical about the benefits this technology can bring to their professional lives. Expectations of improved productivity and reduced workload do not seem to be met.

Key points:

  • 69% of job applicants do not believe AI improves job performance.
  • Only 34% fear being replaced by bots, while only 30% believe AI will increase competition for positions.
  • Employees are often forced to use AI tools that do not improve their productivity.
  • Difficulties in implementing AI and lack of good data are among the causes of poor return on investment.

The enthusiasm surrounding AI in companies seems to be distant from the reality experienced by workers. Despite promises of efficiency and simplification of daily tasks, job seekers show little confidence in the technology. A recent study by Resume Genius, which surveyed 1,000 people in the United States, found that a large proportion of respondents, 69 percent, do not believe AI can actually improve their job performance. Moreover, 62 percent of them believe that AI will not help reduce their workload, suggesting a distrustful attitude toward this technological revolution that promises to streamline business processes. An interesting finding concerns the fear of being replaced by bots, which affects only 34 percent of respondents, compared with 30 percent who think AI will increase competition in the labor market or hurt wages. These numbers suggest that despite the positive rhetoric heard from top management, the general perception among workers remains uncertain and, in many cases, skeptical. Moreover, a deeper analysis of the data by generational group did not reveal any significant differences: even members of Generation Z, often considered the most open to new technologies, are not without doubts about the effectiveness of AI in the workplace. This skepticism is part of a larger picture that confirms findings from other recent surveys that the promises made by AI advocates have not yet been able to be realized in practical terms.

Even in the data reported by Upwork, the use of AI to increase productivity appears far from rosy. Seventy-seven percent of employees who have been forced to use AI tools at work reported seeing a reduction in their efficiency. In addition, many workers report feeling overwhelmed by increasing demands from superiors who expect better results from the introduction of these technologies. Despite this, research conducted by Adobe showed that about 80 percent of workers would be willing to adopt AI solutions if they could actually save them time, but the operational reality seems not to match these expectations.

The difficulties in implementing AI are not limited to individual employees, but also extend to companies themselves. According to a report by Appen, the AI data services company, the return on investment (ROI) for AI projects has declined, and only a small percentage of these projects reach a concrete implementation stage. Another factor holding back the successful adoption of AI is the difficulty of estimating the actual value of these investments, as pointed out by Gartner. This highlights a paradox: while business executives are excited about the potential transformation brought by AI, tangible results lag behind, leaving both employees and top management dissatisfied.

Despite the adoption of AI tools by companies, the overall impression remains that of a technology that has not yet been able to concretely demonstrate its operational benefits.

In a context where rhetoric clashes with the reality of daily work, it is still uncertain whether AI will really simplify work or end up adding more difficulties to professional activities.