Companies Struggle to Integrate AI, Leaving Employees Frustrated
Companies are striving to take advantage of AI to improve their workflows and stay competitive. However, many are struggling to figure out exactly how to integrate AI into their business. This challenge is leading to tension with employees who are eager to use AI to make their work faster and easier.
Professionals Want AI in the Workplace
A new report released this week by generative AI company Writer looks at the disconnect between what companies are able to do with AI and what employees want them to do. The report, titled "Generative AI Adoption in the Enterprise," is based on a survey commissioned by Writer. Conducted by Workplace Intelligence, the survey elicited responses about AI in the workplace from 1,600 knowledge workers in the US, including 800 C-suite executives and 800 employees.
Many professionals are seeking jobs that would let them work with generative AI. Among those surveyed, 59% of C-suite executives and 35% of employees said they’re actively looking for a new job with a company more innovative with generative AI than their current employer. Expanding on that, 59% of the executives and 45% of the employees said they wouldn’t even consider working for a company that isn’t using generative AI.
How Are These Professionals Taking Advantage of AI?
Data analysis and insights was the most popular answer. Customer support, knowledge management, automating complex tasks, and automating repetitive tasks were next in line. Other reasons included content generation, personalized communication, editing and proofreading, brainstorming, and forecasting and decision-making.
Why Are Companies Struggling to Integrate AI?
This brings us back to the companies struggling to integrate AI. What challenges and obstacles have companies faced?
Many of those surveyed said that the adoption of AI has led to power struggles within their company. Specifically, the move has created tension between IT and other lines of business, as well as between executives and employees. Some say that IT leaders aren’t working with employees to adopt AI, that IT isn’t delivering real value with generative AI, or that employees have been left to figure out how to use generative AI on their own.
How Organizations Can Move Forward with AI
With companies struggling to adopt generative AI, some employees eager to use it, and others afraid of it, how can an organization move forward in this area? The report offers a few tips.
- Create and invest in a formal generative AI plan. Based on the survey, companies that invest in a formal plan have been much more successful at integrating AI than those without a plan. Make sure you invest enough in the tools and technology to generate the ROI you want.
- Nurture your AI champions. Support those people at your company who have embraced AI. They can help inspire other employees who may be more reticent to use it.
- Choose the right vendors. The best vendors don’t just provide the necessary tools. They also can help you with change management, employee education, and even shaping your AI vision.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the survey findings suggest that companies are struggling to integrate AI, leading to tension with employees who are eager to use AI to make their work faster and easier. To move forward, organizations should create and invest in a formal generative AI plan, nurture their AI champions, and choose the right vendors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is generative AI?
A: Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that can generate new and original content, such as text, images, or music.
Q: What are the benefits of generative AI?
A: The benefits of generative AI include data analysis and insights, customer support, knowledge management, automating complex tasks, and automating repetitive tasks.
Q: Why are companies struggling to integrate AI?
A: Companies are struggling to integrate AI due to power struggles within the organization, lack of employee education, and inadequate vendor support.
