58% of employees in Ireland use AI tools as part of their job
- Workhuman research finds that 40% of employees in Ireland have taken credit for work carried out by AI
- 28% of employees have used AI to help them ask for a promotion and 20% have used it to ask for a raise
- 22% of employees have used AI to help them resign
- The majority (88%) of those using AI in the workplace say that it is increasing their productivity
- Of those who have tried to pass the work of AI off as their own, 50% were found out
- Employees who describe themselves as happy in work are significantly more likely to be using AI in their roles than those who say they are unhappy
Dublin, 28 November 2023—Workhuman®, the company revolutionising the way employees celebrate, connect with and appreciate each other in the workplace, today announces new findings from its Human Workplace Index, which found that 58% of employees in Ireland now use artificial intelligence (AI) tools as part of their job. Moreover, some 40% of employees have claimed work carried out by AI as their own. The research shows that of these, half of them were rumbled by a colleague or manager.
The survey of 1,000 full-time employees in Ireland was commissioned by Workhuman and conducted by Pollfish to gain insights into the use of AI in the workplace. It found that 58% of employees in Ireland now use AI tools as part of their job and 30% of all employees are using them frequently.
With 47% of users saying they use generative AI (such as ChatGPT) for drafting emails, while 44% use it for brainstorming, the research suggests that AI is helping employees with some of the more difficult interactions in work. Some 28% of those surveyed have turned to AI for help or inspiration when asking for a promotion – 36% said they would consider it – and 20% have used it to ask for a raise. AI has also helped 22% of employees with the delicate matter of resigning from their job.
The survey also shows that AI can help companies to retain skilled talent. The introduction or increased use of AI would make 46% of employees more likely to stay in their jobs (versus 22% who would be less likely to stay), with 71% of those saying it would make them more productive. Moreover, 70% believe AI will lead to better job satisfaction and a better work-life balance, while the same proportion believe it will create new job opportunities – significantly higher than the 42% who believe AI will eventually replace their job.
One of the key benefits of AI highlighted by Workhuman’s survey is the efficiency gains. The majority (88%) of those using AI in the workplace say that it is increasing their productivity. For 49%, it is reducing their workload, while 47% are spending less time on repetitive tasks, enabling them to be more strategic in how they complete their work. When asked what they do with the time that AI gives back to their day, 50% of those using it said they have social chats with colleagues, 46% help other members of their team, and 42% focus on tasks that they wouldn’t have otherwise had time for.
By supporting people in their roles, the survey suggests that AI is helping to reduce stress among the working population. It found that the majority (91%) of employees say that AI is making their job easier or more manageable, while 86% say it is improving their job satisfaction and 84% say it is improving their sense of wellbeing in the workplace. In fact, Workhuman’s research found that employees who use AI in their job are generally happier than those who don’t. Of those who described themselves as being happy in work right now, 64% are using AI – versus 26% usage among employees who describe themselves as unhappy in work.
Reflecting the power of AI to positively impact the culture of an organisation, such as removing bias from the recruitment process or highlighting unconscious prejudices, many of those working in organisations that are using AI believe it is helping their company to become more diverse (cited by 85%) and more inclusive (82%).
Jonathan Hyland, Chief Technology Officer, Workhuman, said: “Our research shows that there is an increasing level of comfort with AI among the working population. Employees are using it as a tool not only to enhance their work, but also to manage their workloads and stress levels. It is helping with inclusivity, too, with 84% of employees saying that it is supporting more inclusive communications and collaborations with colleagues. As more organisations adopt AI, these kinds of benefits are growing in number and compounding to have a positive impact on wellbeing and the ever-challenging issue of retention.
“Businesses are realising that AI isn’t going to be optional and that means that their employees will need to understand it and embrace it. Yet, our research found that 20% of those who are working in companies that use AI have received no training in its use or application. It’s important that we keep the human element in the process in order to maximise our use of AI. Employees are constantly evolving and upskilling, and AI should be used to enhance the human experience – not replace it entirely. Employers and their teams must work together to find the AI solutions that work best for everyone. Only then will they be able to realise the true benefits of AI by unearthing the tools that will make a difference.”
“At Workhuman, we are excited that, starting in December, our Customer Services team will be actively working with AI to digest case summaries. Currently, agents spend 60% of their time manually reviewing cases, so using AI as a solution will help accelerate response times, increasing productivity and customer satisfaction. The idea of using AI to support with case summaries came directly from our Customer Service Agents during Workhuman’s Hackathon, and we’re excited to see how it will enhance our employee satisfaction.”
Survey methodology:
The survey’s sample consisted of 1,000 full-time employees based in Ireland, who were surveyed in August 2023.This survey was conducted and analysed in collaboration with Full Spectrum Insights with the sample procured using the Pollfish survey delivery platform, which delivers online surveys globally through mobile apps, the mobile web, and the desktop web.