Survey Finds Forty Percent of Workers See Generative AI as a Positive

Use of generative AI has workers feeling optimistic about their skills and career prospects, research from talent solutions and business consulting firm Robert Half shows. According to a survey of more than 2,500 workers in the United States, 41% believe generative AI will have a positive impact on their career, compared with 14% who worry it could make their skills obsolete. About one in four respondents (26%) feel generative AI will have little to no impact.  

Attitudes by Occupation and Generation

Robert Half research reveals workers are optimistic about generative AI. Technology (63%) and human resources (54%) professionals say generative AI will create more demand for their skills. Gen Zers (63%) and Millennials (57%) are more optimistic about AI's benefits than are Gen Xers (30%) and Baby Boomers (21%). View generational age groups here.

“Given the hype around generative AI, it's natural for workers to question the impact it will have on their immediate and long-term job prospects,” says Trisha Plovie, senior vice president of future of work at Robert Half. “What's important right now is for both workers and employers to prioritize and understand the capabilities, benefits and risks it may present.”

Embracing Generative AI Across Professions 

According to Robert Half's research, workers say the greatest benefits of using generative AI on the job are automating time-consuming tasks (35%) and increasing efficiency and productivity (30%).

Many companies see the upside of leveraging generative AI in the workplace, too. In a separate Robert Half survey, managers shared some of the top ways their teams are using the technology: administrative and customer support; automating data entry; writing job descriptions; analyzing and categorizing customer feedback; streamlining document review and analysis; and processing large volumes of data to improve system performance.

View more AI use cases across occupations here.

“Embracing generative AI in the workplace,” Plovie says, “will require a clear set of guidelines and an openness to its potential to help alleviate routine tasks, improve productivity and free up time for more strategic projects.”

About the Research

The online surveys were developed by Robert Half and conducted by an independent research firm from May 4-30, 2023. They include responses from more than 2,500 workers 18 and older and more than 2,000 hiring managers in finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, administrative and customer support, human resources, and other areas at companies with 20 or more employees in the United States.

For the full size worker optimism graphic, click here.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.