Most Employees Are Optimistic About AI Use, IIMA Study Finds; Concerns Arise Over Uneven AI Adoption Across Sectors
A recent study, led by the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA), has highlighted that despite concerns over automation and potential job loss due to the increasing use of AI tools in the workplace, a majority of employees across various sectors have a positive outlook on AI, believing it can enhance their performance and create new opportunities.
The Brij Disa Centre for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (CDSA) at IIMA, in collaboration with the Wadhwani Foundation, has released a comprehensive report on the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on India’s white-collar workforce. Titled “Labour-force Perception about AI – A Study on Indian White-collar Workers,” the report offers detailed insights into AI awareness, usage, and the future outlook among employees, highlighting the urgent need for upskilling and education.
According to the report, AI is already making significant inroads into the Indian workplace, with more than half (55%) of the surveyed employees reporting the use of AI tools in their workplaces. Of these, 48% received formal training from their organizations, indicating a growing recognition of AI’s role in business operations.
The report also notes that a majority of respondents (72%) believe that AI tools significantly enhance their work performance. Additionally, 59% of employees see AI as a complement to their existing job functions rather than a replacement.
However, the study also addresses the impending threat of automation, with 68% of employees expecting AI to partially or fully automate their jobs within the next five years. Furthermore, 40% are concerned that their current skill sets might become obsolete.
Despite these concerns, 53% of respondents are optimistic about AI creating new job opportunities, emphasizing the need for strategic workforce planning.
One of the critical findings of the report is the gap in AI education, particularly among recent graduates and entry-level workers with less than five years of experience, highlighting the need for enhanced training and upskilling programs to prepare the workforce for the AI era.
The report also sheds light on uneven AI adoption across different sectors. While industries such as IT, manufacturing, healthcare, and education are actively engaging in AI training, sectors like retail, trade, and infrastructure are lagging. Notably, the finance and insurance sectors, despite their reliance on data, are not leading in AI training, which may reflect higher expectations from these industries.
