18 Sept 2024: Nine in ten US business leaders expect AI adoption to change some manual roles, with three quarters (74%) expecting such roles to be replaced, finds newly published research from BSI. This comes amidst widespread optimism about the positive impact of AI-tools on productivity and recognition amongst 79% say companies will be at a competitive disadvantage if they do not invest in them.
Based on insights from nearly 1,000 business leaders across nine countries, BSI’s report, Evolving Together: Flourishing in the AI Workforce, examines AI’s prospective impact on work. In the US, 76% of business leaders say AI tools should be embraced even if some jobs change or are lost as a result and approximately two thirds (65%) agree innovation is more important than protecting existing jobs. Notably, US leaders were more inclined to see AI as an opportunity than a risk, with 77% seeing the matter in this way. 38% of Japanese business leaders, 35% in France, and 34% in the UK took a different view, saying that AI was more of a risk for individual employees than an opportunity.
Over half (62%) of US respondents expect AI to be used in the next five years to improve productivity and efficiency, rising to 64% in China and 65% in India. A quarter (22%) expect AI to reduce reliance on external contractors, while 8% of US leaders are optimistic about the creation of specialist roles in AI transformation, training or innovation. This figure rose to 95% in India and 92% in China.
Kate Field, Global Head, Human and Social Sustainability, BSI said: “The world of work is changing, shaped by demographic shifts bringing growing age diversity alongside new attitudes and expectations of when, how and where work is done. AI-powered technologies have the power to transform the way we work across the US, and we can expect them to shape how companies recruit staff, manage performance, train employees and more.
“AI, used effectively, has the potential to enhance diversity, transform line management and facilitate a more flexible way of working. At the same time, it is vital that we consider how to retain human creativity, ingenuity, critical thinking, and collaboration. We can use AI to enhance efficiency and productivity, and if we pair it with human insight, empathy, and compassion, we can strengthen organizational culture and foster greater innovation.”
With nine in ten leaders globally (91%) saying their business will invest in AI in the next five years, the report looks at the prospects for AI to be used in management, job redesign, training and recruitment, finding that even now three fourths in the US (74%) say their organization is using AI tools to support candidate recruitment process and a higher proportion (78%) are aware of their business using AI to support any aspect of performance management. Despite this, HR is not one of the functions expected to be most impacted by AI in the US, with only 41% saying they anticipate this, compared with 74% for operations, 64% for marketing and 56% for sales.
Training is identified as being key, with three quarters (74%) in the US saying that if people do not have the skills to manage AI tools this will have a negative impact on their career progression. Overall, four fifths of US businesses are offering some form of training (82%) but only a third (37%) are aware of a significant amount of formal or informal training being offered by their firm to guide employees in how to use AI tools safely, ethically and effectively and manage risk. Despite this, 83% of US leaders say their business should be doing more to build trust in AI amongst employees.
Currently, only 32% of US businesses have AI deployment as a board-level priority. Just 13% have a Chief AI Officer or equivalent, while less than half (45%) have no formal AI business strategy in place. Yet, there is a clear opportunity for businesses to show leadership, with approximately four in five (83%) saying business should be doing more to build trust in AI amongst employees. 86% also say businesses have a responsibility to ensure the gains from incorporating AI are shared across society.
BSI’s research draws together four key takeaways exploring how business leaders can act to shape trust in AI across their ecosystems and wider society, so AI can be realized as a force for good. These include:
- AI in performance management: Use AI to strengthen performance management and boost organizational culture – paired with human insight, emotional intelligence and critical thinking
- Diversity, inclusion and recruitment: Leverage AI to recruit a more diverse candidate pool – while ensuring that the underlying culture of the organization also develops to support this
- Job design: Consider how AI could help job redesign to enhance flexibility and boost productivity
- Training: Prioritize delivery of continuous AI training while recognizing that this alone does not guarantee competency
- Corporate Governance and Trust: Build trust by engaging employees on every step of the AI journey
Notes to editors
The full report can be read here. Kate Field is available for interview.
About BSI:
BSI is a business improvement and standards company that partners with more than 77,500 clients globally across multiple industry sectors. BSI provides organizations with the confidence to grow by working with them to tackle society’s critical issues – from climate change to building trust in AI and everything in between - to accelerate progress towards a fair society and a sustainable world.
For over a century BSI has been recognized for having a positive impact on organizations and society, building trust and enhancing lives. Today BSI engages with a 15,000 strong global community of experts, industry and consumer groups, organizations and governments to deliver on its purpose by helping its clients fulfil theirs.
