Survey shows workers are more skeptical about AI than employers

In short: A new UK survey highlights a growing gap between how employers and workers feel about using AI at work.

What's going on

A report from King’s College London’s Policy Institute, called “AI and the Future of Work,” surveyed four groups in the UK: 2,000 members of the public, 1,000 young people aged 16 to 29, 1,000 university students, and 500 employers. Interviews ran from April 16 to 29.

The survey found employers are far more positive about job opportunities linked to AI. Sixty-nine percent of businesses said they were optimistic, compared with 35 percent of employees and 28 percent of the general public. It also found a gap on day-to-day value. Forty-seven percent of workers who use AI said it makes no real difference to how well they do their jobs, while 86 percent of employers said they had seen at least modest productivity improvements (productivity means getting more done in the same time).

The wider news cycle may be shaping these views. The Financial Times notes recent warnings about AI and jobs, including Standard Chartered saying it plans to cut almost 8,000 roles as it puts AI at the center of a new strategy.

What to watch

Several voices in the UK are urging companies to bring staff along, instead of treating AI as a top-down change. The CBI, a UK business group, says many firms are focusing on “task-level change,” meaning small changes to specific tasks rather than a full overhaul. The Trades Union Congress argues employers should be clear about how AI is used, share the benefits with workers, and set fair rules, like agreeing on standards across an industry. Another key question is trust, since many respondents expect AI’s financial gains to flow mainly to wealthy investors and large companies.

Source: Financial Times