Ready to bring your AI-game to work?

What once belonged to the realm of science fiction is now part of our daily working lives. From smart houses that anticipate our needs before we are even aware of them to applications that revolutionise healthcare, AI is here to stay. When it comes to work, the data speaks loud and clear: one in three EU workers are already using it at work, and 92 % of companies plan to invest more in AI over the next three years. This means that we are already fairly familiar with working alongside AI, but do we grasp its full potential?

A force for good

Over the years, there have been much anxiety surrounding the use of AI: privacy and security concerns, ethical dilemmas, worries about misuse, and just plain old fear that it will take our jobs have brought about mixed feelings about its presence in the workplace.

However, all is not bleak. According to an EU survey carried out earlier this year, 62 % of Europeans have a positive view of AI at work. Indeed, AI can be a transformative tool in how companies operate and how we, as employees, are doing our jobs.

Boosting productivity

AI helps you to work smarter, not harder. Let’s have a look at how.

It improves efficiency. AI tools speed up routine tasks that eat into the time you could be doing more meaningful work. Automating tasks such as data entry, system testing, expenses tracking, content scheduling and more frees you up to focus on more important activities.

It allows you to better leverage data and produce more accurate results. AI can analyse more information at once, and faster than a human. So, if your job involves handling a lot of data, don’t be afraid to delegate tasks to your preferred AI buddy. AI assistants are awaiting your instructions, ready to make your working day easier and your outputs more precise.

Is your role customer-facing? Then AI can help you step up your game by delivering faster services and more personalised client interactions. Chatbots operating 24/7 ensure your customers are supported at any time, and not only during your working hours. AI can also craft email responses to the most frequently asked questions, freeing you up to brainstorm better products and experiences for your customers.

It enhances well-being. AI can reduce your stress levels at work, not only by taking over the most repetitive and tedious tasks, but also by allowing you to track your health and make measurable changes. Wearable devices such as smartwatches and fitness trackers may be more than just a craze: they help track your heart rate, sleep patterns and activity levels, as well as provide recommendations for better lifestyle choices. So, the next time you find yourself overwhelmed at work, a look at your metrics may remind you to take a step back, take a break and look after yourself before returning to your tasks with more clarity and energy.

AI may have come under attack over the years, but it’s simply hard to ignore the many benefits. If you want to evolve with the times, embrace AI and work with it, maximising the efficiency of your interactions with it. Then, not only will AI not replace you, but it will make you even better at what you do.

Find out more about how to upgrade your AI skills to truly reap the benefits in our article AI skills for tomorrow: A guide to upskilling in the digital age.

Related links:

OECD: AI and work

AI skills in the workplace? Cedefop asked the workers

European Commission: European approach to artificial intelligence

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