The use of AI tools at work may not be as “mandatory” as the C-suite believes, according to survey results published March 5 by Slingshot and parent company Infragistics.
While the majority of executives surveyed — 86% — said they believe AI usage is required at their companies, only 49% of middle managers agree and instruct their direct reports to act as such.
This is but one example of the disconnect between the C-suite and actual company approach to AI and data use. Just over 40% of employers told Slingshot that they were “ready to embrace AI as another member of the team,” but only 20% of workers said they view AI as a co-worker. Most said they view AI as “a helpful tool.”
Additionally, while 70% of executives said their employees are “constantly” relying on data, only 31% of employees surveyed said the same, with many saying they rely instead either on their personal experience or a data team.
“Companies are being told that if they are still looking at AI as just another tool they’re already behind — and are adjusting strategies accordingly,” Dean Guida, CEO of Infragistics and founder of Slingshot, said in a statement. “However, while the top office may be putting AI at the center of business processes and decision making, this ‘teammate mentality’ doesn’t automatically trickle down to the entire organization.”
Several studies have noticed the disconnect between C-suite executives and other parts of the company — including HR. Nearly half of the decision-makers surveyed by AMS said their HR teams and C-suite leadership are not aligned regarding how AI should be used in hiring.
As companies struggle to get the entire company onboard with AI usage, they may be overlooking a key resource: managers, according to recent analysis by Gartner. HR, in particular, can help managers communicate the usefulness of AI to their specific teams as well as help managers decide what to do with the time that AI will eventually free up, Gartner said.
