Does AI Boost Worker Productivity, or Reduce It?

Despite its potential, studies show workers currently view AI as a hassle that actually makes us less productive.

Workers using AI technology are less productive than those who don’t, according to a new study from Intel.

The AI chipmaker surveyed 6,000 employees in France, Germany and the UK from various backgrounds, education levels and job roles. Among their findings: people who owned an AI PC “spent longer on computer chores than those who had a normal PC or laptop.”

This aligns with a July survey by Upwork that found 77% of workers said AI tools have decreased their productivity and added to their workload in at least one way.

Of course, that’s not what employees – or company executives – want.

In the same Upwork survey, 96% of C-suite leaders said they expect the use of AI tools to increase their company’s overall productivity.

Those hopes echo 2023 research by McKinsey predicting productivity growth of 0.1% to 0.6% by 2040 due to AI use. McKinsey further predicted that generative AI combined with other work-automation technologies could add a whopping 0.5% to 3.4% increase to annual productivity growth.

How do we get there?

McKinsey’s predictive modeling accounted for the fact that workers will need support in learning new skills.

In its study, Intel also pointed to proper education as the solution to AI’s current negative impact on productivity. Training employees on how to implement and use AI effectively is essential for realizing its potential, Intel said, as many users spend a long time identifying how to best communicate with AI tools to get the desired answers or response.

Employees are learning how to use AI tools, whether through work-led training or on their own. According to the Upwork survey, 23% of employees said this increased time investment is one of the ways that AI has added to their workloads – along with spending more time reviewing or moderating AI-generated content (39%) and being asked to do more as a direct result of AI (21%).

In addition to educating workers on how to use AI, increased productivity will stem from workers’ ability to allocate time and energy on other tasks instead.

McKinsey notes that labor productivity growth will vary depending on the rate of AI adoption and redeploying workers’ time into other activities. Their research also accounted for the fact that some employees will change occupations, which could lead to broader shifts in the economy.

In other words: AI can dramatically change the way we work over the next 15 years. But, for now, studies show it can be a hassle that actually makes us less productive.