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‘AI Anxious’: LinkedIn Survey Reveals Employees’ Fear of Lagging Behind in AI Technology

Published

1 year ago

September 14, 2023

'AI Anxious': LinkedIn Survey Reveals Employees' Fear of Lagging Behind in AI Technology

A recent survey conducted by LinkedIn indicates that a growing number of employees are experiencing what is being referred to as “AI Anxious.”

This phenomenon is characterized by a concern among workers about falling behind in terms of understanding and utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace.

The survey covered nearly 30,000 professionals across 18 countries, including major economies like the US, UK, and Canada. Among the key findings, it was discovered that nearly half, or 49%, of the respondents expressed apprehension that they should have a greater understanding of AI.

Additionally, just under 40% stated that they felt overwhelmed by the pace of AI advancements and expressed difficulty keeping up. A significant 56% admitted being unsure how to effectively employ AI in their professional roles.

(Photo : AXEL HEIMKEN/AFP via Getty Images)
Philip Singer, business architect for data and AI at Hewlett-Packard Enterprises (HPE), operates a robot (developed in cooperation between HPE and German AI startup Aleph Alpha) that is able to speak and answer questions at the HANNOVER MESSE 2023, the Hanover technology fair, in Hanover, Germany on April 17, 2023. – The fair runs from April 17 until April 21, 2023.

LinkedIn Survey Key Findings

Approximately 90% of professionals expressed excitement about the integration of AI into the workplace, although half of them acknowledged the need for further knowledge acquisition.

A majority, around 58%, believed that AI would substantially alter their work dynamics in the next year. Impressively, 84% believed that AI would positively impact their career progression.

Currently, 46% of global professionals reported active use of AI in their jobs, while 36% were in the process of experimenting with generative AI tools such as ChatGPT.

The demand for AI-related roles has surged, with job postings mentioning GPT or ChatGPT increasing by 21 times since November 2022.

AI was not exclusively seen as a domain for tech professionals. Instead, it was viewed as a means to enhance work-life balance and skill development, a sentiment echoed by 45% of respondents.

Concerning skill sets, respondents believed that problem-solving, strategic thinking, and time management would become more crucial as AI tools become more present in the workplace. This viewpoint was shared by 92% of US executives, who considered people skills to be paramount.

‘AI Anxious’

However, despite the enthusiasm and expectation surrounding AI, there exists a palpable anxiety among professionals. More than a third of respondents expressed worry about lagging behind in AI-related knowledge, while 56% confessed to a lack of proficiency in using AI in their work settings.

Intriguingly, 39% of global professionals admitted to faking a better understanding of AI in front of their colleagues. In response to this trend, LinkedIn has observed a 65% year-on-year increase in learning hours for the top 100 AI-related courses, signaling a strong desire for AI-related education.

The survey involved over 29,000 global professionals across the UK, US, Canada, Australia, Singapore, India, France, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Netherlands, Italy, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, UAE and Japan.