Whereas different analysis experiences have discovered that staff could also be intimidated by and even fearful of rising tech similar to AI, new analysis from enterprise analytics and consulting agency Ernst & Younger paints a wholly totally different image. The agency’s current survey finds {that a} overwhelming majority of US employees (89 p.c) consider adopting rising applied sciences is useful for his or her firm—however greater than half (59 p.c) say their senior management is sluggish to embrace these probably game-changing applied sciences.
The newly launched Rising Tech at Work Survey requested greater than 1,000 US staff about their familiarity with and anticipated influence of 12 rising applied sciences—together with AI, machine studying (ML), augmented actuality (AR), digital actuality (VR), digital twin, edge and quantum computing, and biometrics—and divulges essential insights for enterprise leaders contemplating the implementation of recent applied sciences and navigating obstacles to adoption.
Staff are enthusiastic in regards to the promise of recent applied sciences, however 52 p.c say that applied sciences are outdated by the point their firm does implement them. As well as, there’s a generational divide in adoption and expectations. Gen Z and millennial staff are extra seemingly than different generations of staff to say they at present use generative AI to draft emails (24 p.c for Gen Z and 27 p.c for millennial vs. 12 p.c for Gen X and 6 p.c for child boomers) and are additionally extra prone to say senior management at their firm don’t see the worth of adopting rising know-how (58 p.c for Gen Z and 53 p.c for millennial vs. 42 p.c for Gen X and 42 p.c for child boomers).
“Right now’s workforce is anxiously awaiting tomorrow’s digital capabilities,” mentioned Faisal Alam, EY Americas consulting rising know-how chief, in a information launch. “Although leaders acknowledge how new applied sciences can remodel their enterprise, they should additionally pay attention to worker perceptions across the sluggish tempo of adoption, and the obstacles and dangers that might undermine efforts.”
Worker present nice pleasure for rising applied sciences
Staff had overwhelmingly optimistic reactions about how rising applied sciences might influence their function. For instance, amongst respondents conversant in every know-how, a overwhelming majority say that having digital twin (87 p.c), edge computing (86 p.c), quantum computing (84 p.c) or cloud/serverless computing (80 p.c) at their firm would change their function or job operate for the higher. And staff conversant in generative AI view it as one of many rising applied sciences with the aptitude to enhance effectivity (61 p.c), pace (62 p.c) and productiveness (60 p.c) of their present day-to-day work.
The applied sciences most generally anticipated for use in enterprise inside three years amongst staff conversant in every have been generative AI (55 p.c), the metaverse (50 p.c), and AI/ML (50 p.c), whereas quantum computing was perceived as probably the most futuristic (32 p.c). In reality, 23 p.c of US employees already use AI/ML know-how to automate repetitive duties, and 60 p.c are keen to make use of AI/ML for that objective sooner or later.
Overcoming obstacles to maximise the potential of recent know-how
One of many main obstacles for adoption staff have for all new rising applied sciences is cybersecurity dangers. Staff agreed that cybersecurity coaching for brand new applied sciences is vital and that, in the end, the excessive cyber danger won’t cease many from adopting rising tech. Among the many particular person applied sciences explored, staff conversant in Quantum Computing, for instance, three-quarters (78 p.c) have been involved about its related cybersecurity dangers.
Past cybersecurity, much less pronounced however very actual obstacles embody:
- Moral and ethical issues, particularly amongst these conversant in AI/ML (38 p.c)
- A expertise hole, i.e. a or scarcity of expert staff to make use of the know-how, which was most problematic amongst these conversant in AI/ML (37 p.c), quantum (36 p.c) and edge computing (36 p.c)
- Inadequate coaching or upskilling alternatives, particularly amongst respondents conversant in digital twin (33 p.c) and quantum computing (32 p.c)
“Establishing belief is foundational for integrating new, rising applied sciences into a corporation of any measurement,” Alam mentioned. “To be able to understand the total upside of groundbreaking advances like AI and edge computing, leaders should strategically put staff on the heart of their transformation selections by speaking their aims for brand new applied sciences early and infrequently.”
Learn the total report right here.
EY US commissioned a third-party vendor to conduct a web based survey amongst n=1,001 full- and part-time US staff, ages 18+, who’re conversant in at the very least one rising know-how (synthetic intelligence/machine studying, digital actuality/augmented actuality, the metaverse, blockchain, Web3, the Web of Issues, digital twin, quantum computing, cloud/serverless computing, biometrics, edge computing and generative AI). The research was fielded between February 6 and February 15, 2023. The margin of error (MOE) for the whole pattern is +/- 3 proportion factors.
