Generative AI could be hurting productivity at work, despite what bosses believe

A hot potato: Company execs love to talk about how generative AI can be used by workers to seamlessly increase productivity and make life easier – for those whom it doesn't replace. However, according to a new survey, nearly three-quarters of employees who use AI say it has actually decreased productivity while adding to their workload.

The Upwork Research Institute, part of the freelancing platform Upwork, surveyed 2,500 global C-suite executives, full-time employees, and freelancers in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada for its report.

It should come as no surprise to learn that 96% of C-suite leaders expect the use of AI tools to increase their companies' overall productivity levels. 39% of companies in the study are mandating the use of AI tools, with an additional 46% encouraging their use. It's not just bosses, either; 65% of employees believe the technologies will increase productivity.

However, expecting something and achieving it are two different things. Almost half (47%) of employees using AI said they have no idea how to achieve the productivity gains their employers expect. 77% complained about the tools decreasing productivity and adding to their workload. Furthermore, 38% said they felt overwhelmed by the demand to use AI at work.

The report speculates that part of the problem could be due to introducing generative AI into outdated work models and systems. Time spent trying to shoehorn the tech into older workflows and learning how it all fits together eats into productivity time.

The survey also found that 39% of employees are spending extra time ensuring that the AI's work is accurate and free from the hallucinations they're notorious for producing. Moreover, 21% of respondents said they had to spend extra time learning how to use the systems.

"While it's certainly possible for AI to simultaneously boost productivity and improve employee well-being, this outcome will require a fundamental shift in how we organize talent and work," said Kelly Monahan, managing director of Upwork's research institute.

The report also highlights how much productivity demands bosses are putting on employees in general. 81% of global C-suite leaders acknowledge they have increased demands on workers in the past year. While using AI tools to increase output is the most common request, bosses are also telling workers to expand their skillsets, take on more responsibilities, return to the office, and work quicker and longer.

The end result is that 71% of employees are experiencing burnout, and two-thirds (65%) say they are struggling with increasing employer demands. One in three employees say they will likely quit their jobs in the next six months because they are burned out or overworked.