52% Employees Prefer AI Colleagues Over Humans UAE: 52% Employees Prefer AI Colleagues Over Humans

The report by Oliver Wyman delves into the impact of generative AI in the GCC, specifically focusing on the UAE. The findings highlight a significant shift in employee preferences, with 52% expressing a preference for AI colleagues over human counterparts. This preference is attributed to the employees' confidence in adapting well to the increased use of AI in the workplace.

The research sheds light on how AI adoption may influence staff retention, indicating a shift in employee behavior. Notably, 25% of UAE employees report actively seeking new job opportunities due to disruptions caused by AI. Additionally, 41% of respondents express openness to AI screening their job applications, signaling potential changes in future hiring processes.

The UAE emerges as a frontrunner in deploying generative AI, with 74% of employees reporting regular use of AI in their workplace activities. This places the country above the global average for AI usage. Moreover, 84% of UAE employees have received training in AI, surpassing the average training rates in 16 other countries covered by the report.

Despite concerns about AI replacing human roles, the report emphasizes that this transformation is not imminent. Dr. Yann LeCun, Chief AI Scientist at Meta, reassures that AI systems lack the sophistication to replace humans in managing, analyzing, and leading socio-economic activities. He highlights the need for developing AI systems with enhanced security and effectiveness, particularly as they play crucial roles in operating and optimizing commonly used devices worldwide.

The report also reveals security concerns related to AI usage, with 94% of UAE employees using AI expressing potential exposure of proprietary data when using public generative AI tools. The primary risks identified include privacy, confidentiality, and cyber fraud.

Jad Haddad, Head of Digital IMEA at Oliver Wyman, underscores the importance for employers to stay abreast of technological advancements, understand their impact, and integrate them judiciously into company processes. He emphasizes the serious repercussions of employees using AI without proper training, particularly in terms of security.

The Generative AI Survey, conducted between October and November 2023, encompassed the perspectives of over 12,000 employees across 16 countries.