The AI Revolution: New Data Shows Most Employees Are Experimenting with AI and Growing Their Skills
The AI Revolution: New Data Shows Most Employees Are Experimenting with AI and Growing Their Skills
The 2024 Work Trend Index, a joint report by Microsoft and LinkedIn, paints a clear picture of the rapid rise of AI in the workplace. According to the research, which surveyed 31,000 people across 31 countries, as well as analyzing labor and hiring trends on LinkedIn and data from Fortune 500 customers, 75% of knowledge workers are now using AI at work.
This surge in AI adoption has been largely driven by employees themselves, with 78% bringing their own AI tools to the office in a "Bring Your Own AI" (BYOAI) movement. Employees say these AI tools are saving them time, boosting their creativity, and allowing them to focus on their most important work.
The Disconnect Between Employees and Leaders
While the data shows a clear appetite for AI among workers, the picture is more complex when it comes to organizational leadership. Although 79% of leaders recognize the critical need for AI adoption to remain competitive, many are struggling to create a clear vision and implementation plan.
Fifty-nine percent of leaders worry about quantifying the productivity gains of AI, and 60% say their company lacks a cohesive strategy to implement it. This disconnect has led to a situation where employees are taking matters into their own hands, potentially missing out on the benefits that come from strategic AI use at scale and putting company data at risk.
"AI is democratizing expertise across the workforce," said Satya Nadella, chairman and CEO of Microsoft. "Our latest research highlights the opportunity for every organization to apply this technology to drive better decision-making, collaboration — and ultimately business outcomes."
The AI Skills Gap Widens, Posing Risks and Opportunities
The rise of AI has also had a significant impact on the job market, with 55% of leaders concerned about having enough talent to fill roles this year. Professionals are taking note, with 46% globally considering quitting in the year ahead - an all-time high since the Great Reshuffle of 2021.
However, this talent shortage also presents a significant opportunity. Two-thirds of leaders (66%) say they wouldn't hire someone without AI skills, yet only 39% of employees have received AI training from their company, and just 25% expect to offer it this year.
Savvy professionals are taking the initiative, with a 142x increase in LinkedIn members adding AI skills like Copilot and ChatGPT to their profiles, and a 160% increase in nontechnical professionals using LinkedIn Learning courses to build their AI aptitude. In a world where AI mentions in LinkedIn job posts drive a 17% bump in application growth, it's a two-way street: Organizations that empower employees with AI tools and training will attract the best talent, and professionals who skill up will have the edge.
The Rise of the AI Power User
The report also highlights the emergence of a new type of employee: the "AI power user." These individuals have fundamentally reoriented their workdays around AI tools, reimagining business processes and saving over 30 minutes per day.
Compared to their more skeptical counterparts, AI power users are:
61% more likely to have heard from their CEO on the importance of using generative AI at work
53% more likely to receive encouragement from leadership to consider how AI can transform their function
35% more likely to receive tailored AI training for their specific role or function
Over 90% of power users say AI makes their overwhelming workload more manageable and their work more enjoyable. These findings underscore the importance of strategic leadership and employee empowerment in driving tangible business impact from AI.
"AI is redefining work, and it's clear we need new playbooks," said Ryan Roslansky, CEO of LinkedIn. "It's the leaders who build for agility instead of stability and invest in skill building internally that will give their organizations a competitive advantage and create more efficient, engaged and equitable teams."
Microsoft and LinkedIn's Response
In response to these trends, both Microsoft and LinkedIn are rolling out new features and resources to help professionals and organizations harness the power of AI.
Microsoft is announcing several innovations to Copilot for Microsoft 365, including:
Auto-complete: Copilot will now offer to complete prompts, suggesting more detailed prompts to deliver stronger results.
Rewrite: A new feature that turns basic prompts into rich ones with the click of a button.
Catch Up: A chat interface that surfaces personal insights and provides responsive recommendations.
Copilot Lab: Enables users to create, publish and manage prompts tailored to their specific needs.
LinkedIn, meanwhile, is providing a range of AI-powered tools to help professionals upskill, advance their careers, and find new job opportunities. This includes:
Over 50 new free AI learning courses for LinkedIn Premium subscribers to build aptitude in generative AI.
AI-Powered Coaching in LinkedIn Learning to help learners find the content they need to grow their skills faster.
AI-powered personalized insights and opportunities in the LinkedIn Feed for Premium subscribers.
New AI-powered tools to assess job fit, get advice on standing out, and receive personalized suggestions.
The Path Forward for Leaders
The 2024 Work Trend Index makes it clear that the AI revolution is here, and leaders must act quickly to channel employee experimentation into tangible business impact. By aligning employee-driven AI adoption with a clear organizational vision, companies can unlock the full potential of this transformative technology.
The key steps for leaders include:
Investing in skill-building: Provide employees with the training and resources they need to develop AI skills, both technical and nontechnical.
Providing strategic direction: Communicate a clear vision for how AI can transform the business, and encourage employees to consider how it can be applied in their roles.
Empowering teams: Emulate the approach of the "AI power users" by giving employees the tools, support, and autonomy they need to harness AI effectively.
By taking these steps, leaders can bridge the gap between employee experimentation and organizational impact, positioning their companies for success in the AI-driven future of work.