AI will be a catalyst for human improvement, not replacement

A recent study has pushed back against the doomsday narratives surrounding the ever-growing presence of artificial intelligence in the workplace.

Workday has undertaken a new study that has analysed the impact that AI will have on jobs going forward. The discovery through this study has somewhat pushed back on the notion that AI presents an inherent danger to the average worker, instead emboldening it as a true catalyst for human improvement.

According to the study, 83 per cent of respondents believe AI will elevate the importance of uniquely human skills and enhance human creativity, signalling the growth of the positive sentiment attached to AI.

In terms of Aussie workers, most are extremely confident and optimistic towards AI and its continued integration in the workplace. The Workday survey puts Aussie employees ahead of other countries in terms of their use of AI at work and their confidence that AI will have a positive impact on their daily working endeavours.

“AI is driving us towards a future where we can harness our innate human skills to connect, create, and innovate,” said Sadie Bell, vice president of people systems at HPE.

“This isn’t just about efficiency and problem solving; it’s about unlocking our potential to build a future that prioritises skills like empathy, ingenuity, and our shared humanity.”

According to the data, almost two-thirds (64 per cent) of Aussie respondents said their department is currently using AI, compared with the global average of 59 per cent. This is reinforced by the fact that 96 per cent are confident in using AI to assist with complex work, 5 per cent higher than the global average (91 per cent).

In terms of confidence in AI, Aussies also have this over their global peers, residing at 86 per cent compared to 83 per cent. Australians are also more likely than global respondents to agree that AI can enhance workplace transparency and accountability in organisations (97 per cent to 90 per cent).

Aussie workers, however, are less likely than their global peers to agree that using AI allows them to focus on responsibilities that are more pressing or of a higher priority (89 per cent to 93 per cent).

Aussie respondents believe that as AI adoption continues to grow rapidly, the best human skill to have will be the ability to adjust to said changes.