Study Finds Employees Optimistic, Overwhelmed by AI

A recent study has revealed that AI is having a dramatic and sometimes overwhelming effect on the working lives of people across the UK. The research, carried out for Henley Business School and involving over 4,500 participants from nearly 30 industries, paints a complex picture of both excitement and concern.

More than half of the full-time workers surveyed expressed a positive outlook on the rise of AI, with 56% feeling hopeful about its potential. At the same time, a slightly higher percentage—61%—admitted they felt overwhelmed by how fast AI is progressing.

According to Professor Keiichi Nakata from Henley, this mix of reactions suggests that many employees aren’t confident in their ability to effectively use AI tools.

Interestingly, the fear of being replaced by machines, which once dominated conversations about automation, is no longer the most common concern. Instead, many professionals are now approaching AI with cautious optimism (26%) or curiosity (23%).

That openness, however, isn’t always met with adequate guidance. Nearly a quarter of respondents said their companies weren’t providing enough help to navigate this transition. Nearly half reported that there are no clear rules or policies around how to use AI at work, adding to the confusion.

Around 60% of those polled said they would feel more confident using AI if they had better training. The lack of job-specific training was especially noticeable in sectors like transportation and policing. Workers across these fields noted that without industry-focused education, it’s difficult to make the most of what AI has to offer.

The study also found that 57% of the workforce expects AI to become a regular part of their job in the next five years. Thirty-seven percent believe it will make them more productive, especially by handling repetitive tasks or helping them interpret complex data.

Concerns about job security are still present, but they seem to be easing. Only 36% of people said they were worried about losing their job to AI, while 61% said they weren’t concerned. Instead, many are now looking at how AI can lighten their workload or make operations more efficient.

Currently, the most common tasks where workers use AI include content generation (32%), research (35%), and data analysis (33%). On average, employees are spending approximately four hours a week using AI tools.

Still, AI isn’t without its drawbacks. About one-third of respondents said they were frustrated by errors made by AI systems, reinforcing the need for human oversight.

As for transparency, most workers—74%—say they’re upfront with their employers about using AI. But this openness varies depending on the industry. People working in science, charities, and law were the least likely to disclose their AI use. Meanwhile, those in construction and real estate voiced concerns that their workplaces are falling behind in embracing new technologies.

As more employees express interest in adopting AI solutions, tech companies like D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS) are likely to regard these attitude changes as encouragement to ramp up their operations in order to meet the growing demand for AI in workplaces.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/QBTS

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