These findings seem to raise questions about the current deployment of artificial intelligence, with a lack of understanding between employees and management regarding goals and expectations. Data suggests that there is still a long way to go in fully harnessing the advantages of emerging technologies.

This research was conducted earlier this year by Walr on behalf of Upwork. A total of 2,500 workers from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia participated in the survey. Respondents included 1,250 executives, 625 full-time salaried employees, and 625 freelancers, with varying ages, genders, and other demographic characteristics ranging from 18 to 78 years old.

One major finding from the survey is the direct disconnect between management and employees. While management expects and encourages employees to use artificial intelligence to enhance productivity, this increased demand comes at a cost.

"71% of people feel exhausted, and nearly two-thirds (65%) say they struggle to cope with their employers' increasing demands," the survey reveals. "Concerningly, one-third of employees say they may quit in the next six months due to feeling exhausted or overworked."

Management also demands that employees expand their skill sets (35%), take on broader responsibilities (30%), return to the office (27%), improve work efficiency (26%), and increase working hours (20%).

Workplace leaders anticipate that generative artificial intelligence will help improve productivity compared to current levels (96%), with 39% of companies in this study having already deployed AI tools and encouraging their use.

Failure to harness the productivity value of artificial intelligence

The "dividend" of artificial intelligence has yet to arrive, and ordinary employees have not yet felt its benefits. Approximately half (47%) of employees using AI state that they do not know how to achieve the expected productivity gains. 77% of people say that AI tools have had the opposite effect, reducing productivity and increasing workload.

An interesting contradiction is that 65% of employees have high hopes for machine learning, believing it will make them more efficient, but reality does not align with this perception.

40% of employees feel that AI demands too much from them. This lack of preparedness is particularly pronounced among 37% of executives in AI-using companies who believe their employees have the skills and readiness to use these tools, contrasting with only 17% of employees who agree.

Nearly all (96%) executives believe that AI can improve productivity, but only slightly over a quarter (26%) have implemented training programs, and only 13% say they have "fully implemented an AI strategy."

This survey highlights the disconnect in the workplace regarding artificial intelligence, a sentiment echoed by Kelly Moahan, Managing Director of the Upwork Research Institute, who states:

"Our research suggests that introducing new technologies into outdated work patterns and systems has failed to fully realize the expected productivity value of artificial intelligence."

"While AI does have the potential to simultaneously enhance productivity and employee well-being, achieving this outcome requires fundamental changes in how we organize and arrange talent and work."