October 23, 2024. Generative AI (GenAI) has arrived in everyday working life – but management and employees have very different views on its use, expectations and benefits. This is confirmed by the updated and expanded GenAI study conducted by IT service provider adesso, in which a total of 778 managers and employees from Germany, Austria and Switzerland (DACH) took part. While top management is already familiar with these tools, the rest of the workforce is often more reserved.
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The world of artificial intelligence has evolved rapidly with the introduction of generative AI models such as ChatGPT. This technology has the potential to transform entire industries by automating complex tasks. adesso asked managers and employees in companies what role GenAI tools play in their day-to-day work. The answers of the study participants provide a picture of the mood of the economy in the DACH region.
According to the study, top management uses GenAI regularly: three out of ten (29 percent) C-level managers even use the various tools several times a day. In comparison, only 12 percent of middle managers and 11 percent of employees use GenAI just as frequently. This means that everyday working life has changed significantly more for managers than for everyone else. At the same time, the discrepancy in the frequency of use is at odds with expectations of the technology.
As the study shows, management generally has significantly lower expectations of GenAI. In particular, there are significant differences between the hierarchy levels when it comes to the expected time savings from the use of such tools: While 92 percent of employees expect a noticeable reduction in workload, only 69 percent of top management and 68 percent of middle management share this optimism. Apparently, managers see GenAI more as a supplement or support in their day-to-day work and less as a tool that completely relieves them of tasks.
Although employees place the greatest hopes in the time benefits of GenAI, it is primarily top management that benefits from it: one in three C-level managers (34 percent) say they save more than five hours of working time per week by using the technology. Only 13% of middle managers and 5% of employees report such significant time savings. Top management is correspondingly satisfied: 35% of C-level managers see their expectations of GenAI fulfilled in all respects, in contrast to 19% of middle managers and 16% of employees.
“The topic of GenAI has become a top priority. Not only are companies thinking about how and where they can optimize their work processes with ChatGPT & Co. One in three C-level managers uses these tools several times a day to get help or suggestions. The rest of the company is much more reserved. This different approach is certainly also due to the fact that many are not sufficiently trained in GenAI: If you don’t know how to use the technology properly, you can’t exploit its potential,” explains Tim Strohschneider, Head of GenAI at adesso SE. “Generative AI is definitely changing the way we work – and it is changing business. It is essential that companies experiment with this technology and identify the best use cases for their specific needs. It is at least as important that companies invest in the AI readiness of all employees.”
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Photo: adesso SE
