Increased awareness of tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot is reducing workplace anxiety around generative AI tools at work, new research shows.
A report based on a seven-week survey of 700 employees by Avanade has highlighted the significant impact of Copilot on employee experiences, indicating that employees are more comfortable with the technology after using it.
The findings showed that structured creativity, idea sharing, and problem solving increase across six human metrics in the workplace: communication, creativity, trust, job satisfaction, connectedness, and organizational citizenship behavior.
Employees trust AI more once they’ve used it
Nearly half (45%) of employees felt less cautious about communication when assisted by Copilot, which Avanade says demonstrates the use of generative AI as a communication tool.
The overall score for creativity and innovation also improved by two percentage points compared to the same survey last year, with approval for embracing new ways of working increasing by nine percentage points.
The majority (88%) of employees felt that Microsoft’s AI aligned with company values, but only two-thirds (65%) felt it aligned with their own personal values, underscoring its value as a tool in the workplace. workplace underlined. The research also highlighted the need for a better understanding of the instruments’ decision-making process and robust governance.
Generative AI also appears to tackle stagnation in the workplace: 85% report a sense of satisfaction in their work and four in five (80%) remain engaged in tasks.
However, there is a clear disconnect between the fact that 92% of IT managers see the need for an AI-first operating model within the next twelve months and only 48% have a specific policy for responsible AI. Avanade says that upskilling employees and implementing ethical frameworks are critical to reaping the benefits of AI in the future.
Avanade Global Future of Work Lead, Veit Siegenheim, says: “Ultimately, Copilot for M365 is not a ‘flip the switch’ technology, but offers enormous potential for improving communication and creativity when implemented.”