Execs admit AI makes them value human workers less

"Most AI spending has under-delivered, leaving execs feeling like they're burning cash, says employment biz G-P (Globalization Partners) in its third annual AI at Work Report. The report finds corporate leaders' enthusiasm for AI waning as ROI proves elusive. Sixteen percent of companies saw a negative ROI from AI investments last year, and 73 percent of executives whose AI efforts did pay off said ROI fell short of expectations, according to the report."

"These findings are based on a survey of 2,850 executives (VP level and up) in the US, Germany, Singapore, Australia, and France, including a separate set of 500 US HR professionals. The AI at Work Report is a little cheerier than last year's findings from MIT NANDA researchers who discovered only five percent of organizations have managed to successfully put AI projects into production. Regardless, execs anticipate scaling back their AI budgets if organizational goals aren't met this year."

"Beyond their worries about financial benefits, corporate execs in the G-P survey have doubts about the reliability of AI, a concern borne out by recent Microsoft research. Only 23 percent of the G-P respondents said they have total confidence in AI accuracy. Those concerns mean 69 percent said they spend more time monitoring and reviewing AI, while 61 percent expressed concerns about using AI to craft sensitive documents because they doubt the output is legally accurate."

"Moral unease doesn't appear to be doing much to help corporate leaders empathize with workers, however. The survey found that "82 percent of executives admit AI has lowered the value they place on human employees." In fact, these leaders appear to have become somewhat suspicious of their people - about 88 percent expressed concern that employees are using AI perform"

Corporate leaders show waning enthusiasm for AI as returns remain elusive. Sixteen percent of companies reported negative ROI from AI investments, and 73 percent of executives with positive AI ROI said results fell short of expectations. The findings come from a survey of 2,850 executives across multiple countries, plus 500 US HR professionals. Compared with earlier research showing few organizations successfully put AI into production, leaders still anticipate scaling back AI budgets if goals are not met. Financial concerns are paired with doubts about reliability and legal accuracy. Only 23 percent reported total confidence in AI accuracy, and many spend more time monitoring AI outputs. Executives also report that AI has lowered the value placed on human employees.

Read at theregister