Fear and Excitement Surrounding AI in the Workplace
Oct 23, 2024
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more common in the workplace, many office workers are feeling unsure about how to use it—and worried that AI might take over their jobs.
Slack, a workplace communication platform, recently surveyed 5,000 office workers about their views on AI. The results showed five main types of attitudes:
- The Maximalist – Fully embraces AI and uses it regularly.
- The Underground – Uses AI but keeps it a secret.
- The Rebel – Dislikes and avoids AI.
- The Superfan – Excited about AI but hasn’t tried it yet.
- The Observer – Taking a wait-and-see approach.
Only about 50% of workers fall into the Maximalist or Underground categories, which means businesses face a challenge in getting employees to embrace AI. Slack’s senior VP of research, Christina Janzer, shared her thoughts on this mix of excitement and concern about AI at work.
Q: What do you make of these different feelings about AI?
A: People’s experiences with AI are really varied, and that affects how they feel about it. If workers are nervous or guilty about using AI, they’re less likely to adopt it. Understanding these emotions can help businesses show employees the value of AI.
Q: How do Maximalists and Underground users differ?
A: Maximalists are all-in with AI. They’re excited and open about using it, which encourages others to give it a try.
The Underground group is more secretive. They use AI but don’t talk about it because they worry it will be seen as cheating or make them look less capable. Companies need to provide clear guidelines so these workers feel comfortable using AI openly.
Q: What about the Rebels, who reject AI?
A: Most Rebels are women, and they tend to be older. It’s interesting because men are adopting AI faster than women.
Q: Why are more women resistant to AI?
A: Women may see AI as more of a threat to their jobs. They might feel less secure in their positions and worry that AI could replace them, while men may feel more confident that their jobs are safe.
Q: How can companies help employees feel comfortable using AI?
A: There are three main things companies can do:
- Provide clear guidelines. Right now, 60% of workers don’t have clear instructions on AI use.
- Encourage open use. Make it okay to talk about and share how AI is being used.
- Create a culture of experimentation. Let employees start small, like using AI to write an email or summarize content, so they can get comfortable with the technology.
Q: Are people right to worry about losing their jobs to AI?
A: People who use AI will replace those who don’t.
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