Only 36% of UK employers have invested in AI-enabled technologies such as industrial robots, chatbots, smart assistants and cloud computing over the past five years, according to a survey from the Digital Futures at Work Research Centre – Facilitate Magazine reports. There is now evidence of clear divides emerging between companies and even sectors that are digital adaptors, and those that are not.
There is a growing divide between organisations that have invested in new, artificial intelligence-enabled digital technologies and those that haven’t, according to recent research by Digit – Facilitate Magazine reports.
Academics at the University of Leeds, with colleagues at the universities of Sussex and Cambridge, led the research, finding that just 10% of employers who hadn’t already invested in AI-enabled technologies were planning to invest in the next two years.
The new data also points to a growing skills problem
Less than 10% of employers foresaw a need to make an investment in digital skills training in the coming years, despite 75% finding it difficult to recruit people with the right skills. Almost 60% of employers reported that none of their employees had received formal digital skills training in the past year.
The main reasons for investing were improving efficiency, productivity and product and service quality, according to the survey. On the other hand, the key reasons for non-investment were the irrelevance of AI to the business activity, wider business risks and the nature of the skills demanded.
There was little evidence in the survey to suggest that investing in AI-enabled technology leads to job losses. In fact, digital adopters were more likely to have increased their employment in the five-year period before the survey.
The workplace AI revolution is not happening quite yet
Lead researcher Professor Mark Stuart, pro dean for research and innovation at Leeds University Business School, said: “A mix of hope, speculation and hype is fuelling a runaway narrative that the adoption of new AI-enabled digital technologies will rapidly transform the UK’s labour market, boosting productivity and growth. These hopes are often accompanied by fears about the consequences for jobs and even of existential risk. However, our findings suggest there is a need to focus on a different policy challenge. The workplace AI revolution is not happening quite yet. Policymakers will need to address both low employer investment in digital technologies and low investment in digital skills if the UK economy is to realise the potential benefits of digital transformation.”
The longstanding challenge of underinvestment in skills shows
“The investment in and adoption of rapidly advancing digital technologies in all forms will impact every organisation’s competitiveness and longer-term survival. This (…) survey should act as a wake-up call to policymakers and all business leaders and stakeholders. There is evidence of clear divides emerging between companies and even sectors who are digital adaptors, and those who are not. Furthermore, the longstanding challenge in the UK of underinvestment in skills shows through, risking not just the ability of organisations to respond to changes, but also the concern of people being left behind. Now is the time to act. To engage across organisations, to experiment and innovate, and to think strategically and responsibly about the opportunities – and threats – from this digital revolution.” – Peter Cheese, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Professional Development pointed out.
It is important to move beyond the hype and have a debate
Stijn Broecke, senior economist at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development highlighted that: “At a time when AI is shifting digitalisation into a higher gear, it is important to move beyond the hype and have a debate that is driven by evidence rather than fear and anecdote. This new report by Digit does exactly this and provides a nuanced picture of the impact of digital technologies on the workplace, highlighting both the risks and the opportunities.”
It is important to move beyond the hype and have a debate
Stijn Broecke, senior economist at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development highlighted that: “At a time when AI is shifting digitalisation into a higher gear, it is important to move beyond the hype and have a debate that is driven by evidence rather than fear and anecdote. This new report by Digit does exactly this and provides a nuanced picture of the impact of digital technologies on the workplace, highlighting both the risks and the opportunities.”
