Is your manager trying to replace you with AI

Is your manager trying to replace you with AI?

April 5, 2023 2:43 PM

As artificial intelligence chatbots like ChatGPT take hold of the workplace, employers and employees alike are questioning the future of business — namely, whether AI will serve as a tool for workers or their replacement.

AI software company Beautiful.ai surveyed 3,000 managers across the U.S. about their perception and implementation of AI technology in the workplace. Notably, 66% of managers say they would gladly replace employees with AI tools if AI could produce comparable work. And while AI is not advanced enough to replace human labor, this survey result points to the pressure managers may feel in the face of inflation, layoffs and a looming recession, explains Sam Radbil, a research strategist at Beautiful.ai.

"We view AI tools as accommodations and enhancements for workers rather than replacements," says Radbil. "But it's a sign of the economic times that managers view AI as a savings opportunity, and want to use AI instead of paying employees."

Radbil underlines that a majority of managers still trust human-produced work over AI, but that won't stop companies from wishing they could pay less for the same results. Beautiful.ai further explored managers' thoughts on AI, and whether employees should be worried.

Here are 5 findings that reveal how managers feel about AI in the workplace, according to Beautiful.ai.

Managers should give AI a try

A staggering 95% of managers have already adopted AI tools in the workplace. Radbil believes this is great news and points to a willingness from companies to give AI a try.

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"It sheds a positive light on how managers are being adaptive rather than fearful," he says. "We encourage management to keep on the same track and see if AI can better the productivity of their company. Ultimately, AI will be a great fit for some and not for others."

AI could be a cost-saving solution

Beautiful.ai found that nearly 70% of managers believe AI would be financially beneficial to the business if they could use the tech to replace employees. Radbil again notes that AI, in its current state, serves as a tool to make employees more effective and efficient at their work — and the more managers actually work with AI, the more clear this will become.

"We want to see AI as something that will help the bottom line for a lot of companies," he says. "But at the end of the day, we think people are really what's going to power great work, in combination with AI."

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Radbil advises managers to continue to invest in their talent, and learn more about AI technology alongside their employees.

Managers know employees are scared

According to Beautiful.ai, 75% of managers believe their employees are afraid that the implementation of AI will eventually lead to being let go. Radbil encourages managers to establish otherwise so workers can willingly learn about AI without anxiety or fear. If employees feel their company wants to replace them with AI, then they will likely be against adopting the technology into their workflow.

"You shouldn't feel like you're going to lose your job to a computer," says Radbil. "Managers can go a long way in improving the culture and engagement at work if they help employees not fear AI."

Managers plan on investing in AI

Over 80% of managers anticipate spending resources on AI programs in 2023 to improve productivity. However, if the company is going to spend money on AI programs, then they should be prepared to spend money on training for employees, underlines Radbil.

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"Especially if you're scaling up and you feel AI is going to be a big piece of the puzzle for your company, invest in training," he says. "We know not everybody has the resources for that, but ultimately, it will be vital for all companies to get some training and show employees how to use these tools."

Managers are ready for employees to use AI

Beautiful.ai also found that 93% of managers plan on encouraging their employees to use AI tools to improve work performance. For Radbil, this is an affirming survey result, because it points to managers' understanding that AI is a tool to support workers, not replace them — even if a part of them wishes otherwise.

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"AI may be driving the automation of mundane tasks, but when it comes to the creative, collaborative and emotional components of work, there's no replacing humans," says Radbil. "We don't think AI is going to replace me or you or anybody who worked on this report. But in combination with human power, AI can go a long way."