Survey finds 81% of employees want more AI at work to increase productivity

SnapLogic has published new research finding 81% of employees believe AI improves their overall performance at work.

As a result, over two thirds (68%) are calling on employers to deploy more AI-based technology to help carry out daily tasks. According to IDC, global spending on AI technologies reached $50.1 billion in 2020, a figure expected to double in the next four years.

SnapLogic says, as a result, it's no surprise AI is transforming the workplace. But it also adds employees were initially sceptical of this technology, and the new data could suggest perception is shifting. The new study, conducted across the US and UK, looked to comprehend how various lines of business, from HR to Finance to Marketing, feel about working with AI technologies.

Over half (56%) of office workers say they use AI routinely. And the research indicates the potential for AI impact is much broader, with 89% saying AI could support them in up to half of everyday work activities.

The top three tasks involved moving, accessing, or analysing data. These were: understanding data and how trends and patterns can aid decision-making, moving data from one place to another, and accessing data in different locations across the business.

Asked about the benefits of AI in the workplace, 61% of respondents say it helped them be more efficient and productive during the workday. Almost half (49%) say it improved decision-making, and just over half (51%) believe AI in the workplace helps them achieve a better work/life balance with a boost in productivity.

"In recent years, there was concern among office workers that AI would drive job losses, but employee opinions seem to have changed," says SnapLogic CTO, Craig Stewart.

"The more they've been exposed to AI and seen it in action, the more they realise how it can assist them with their daily work. As AI is increasingly used to make better decisions and rack up productivity gains, they've gone from tentatively accepting to fully embracing AI.

He adds that employees now actively calling on leaders to accelerate AI technology adoption is a real sea-change.

The survey also looked into the growing market for personal AI applications versus those used at work. It found the workplace seems to be the proving ground for AI use, with 45% downloading AI-driven apps for use at work, compared with 26% downloading AI-driven apps for personal use.

The research was conducted by 3GEM on behalf of SnapLogic, with 400 office workers surveyed, including 200 in the US and 200 in the UK.