Employees really aren’t sure if their bosses know enough about AI
In the tit-for-tat blame game that continues to play out over delayed and poor AI implementation, employees are now saying their managers aren’t ready enough to make progress.
A Capgemini research institute report of 1,500 executives and 1,000 employees in 15 countries, only one in ten (11.6%) employees believe their managers have the right data management skills, and only slightly more (12.8%) is technologically savvy in the field of AI.
These sentiments are reflected in actual use, with only a third (34.9%) of managers currently using generative AI for decision-making, despite four in five (80%) recognizing its potential.
Managers are responsible for the slow adoption of AI
Clearly, there are other barriers preventing companies from further developing their AI strategies, such as the unauthorized use of GenAI tools, which could put sensitive and confidential data at risk. Despite this, 11.1% of employees and 20% of managers admit to using public generative AI tools without proper authorization.
Moreover, 44% of employees indicate that they do not use these tools at all.
Despite the slow uptake, organizations are recognizing the potential benefits of emerging technologies such as AI and automation. Capgemini’s report shows that GenAI could help with about a third of entry-level tasks over the next 12 months.
The research also explores ongoing concerns that AI could replace human workers, with two-thirds (68.6%) of employees concerned that replacing human managers with AI could have a negative impact on the workplace. On a more positive note, 71% of employees see their role evolving rather than being completely replaced by artificial intelligence.
“Generative AI has the potential to evolve from a co-pilot to a co-thinker, capable of strategic collaboration, adding new perspectives and challenging assumptions,” said Roshan Gya, CEO of Capgemini Invent.