A third of employees want AI banned from the workplace

Despite the positive impact artificial intelligence has had on businesses in the last few months, many employees remain skeptical — and they're looking to their companies to quell their insecurities. 

Forty-nine percent of workers said they don't think AI is as good as the media makes it out to be, according to a recent study from educational insights platform CYPHER Learning, with 45% of all workers believing AI will impact future job security. A third of workers even said they want AI banned entirely from the workplace. 

"I think distrust of AI is driven by uncertainty — plus lack of understanding about how AI technologies are actually applied," says Graham Glass, founder and CEO of CYPHER Learning. "AI is transforming industries at a rapid pace, which causes concern among some who feel unprepared or left behind. The less access people have, the greater the qualms. But familiarity breeds more comfort." 

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One of the biggest obstacles is the generational divide. Fifty-seven percent of employees over 55 feel they're aging out of the workplace, according to CYPHER's study, with 52% of employees worried about being left behind by new technologies. In comparison, 72% of employees 18 to 44, however, reported feeling enthusiastic about AI, with the majority considering it more of a "friend" instead of a "foe." 

"Younger workers [view AI] as a tool to remove repetitive tasks from their workflow and improve their work-life balance," Glass says. "Older generations, particularly those over 55, tend to feel more vulnerable. Only 11% of older workers have received AI training, compared to nearly a third of younger employees. This lack of exposure fuels senior workers' concerns that they'll be left behind as AI reshapes the workplace." 

Fortunately, positive sentiment is growing alongside the doubt. Sixty-two percent of workers said new technologies are transforming their role for the better and 46% say AI is making their job easier. While that is a hopeful start, in order to bridge the gap between the employees who still feel hesitant and those who feel optimistic, employers will have to invest in better guardrails and policies.

Sixty-nine percent of employees think their workplace should have more policies, according to CYPHER, with only a quarter of staff members reporting having had training on AI. As a result, 57% of employees that would like to use AI say they need more training to effectively use it in their roles.   

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"Employers should focus on transparency around data usage, ensure that workers understand how AI decisions are made, and provide a platform where employees can voice their concerns," Glass says. "An organizational AI policy is a good vehicle for driving key messages around how the organization expects employees to use AI."

Ultimately, AI will continue to play an integral role in business, according to Glass, and the next step for organizations is to figure out how to usher their workforce into a new era of technological advancement as smoothly and productively as possible. 

"The key is to create a culture of continuous learning," Glass says. "AI will continue to evolve and the skills needed today may be different from those required tomorrow. Help employees see the direct benefits of AI and make the transition smoother and more empowering."