'Too much of the burden today has been put on workers to figure out AI'
Despite the widespread use of artificial intelligence tools in Singapore's workplaces, a new report has found that 45% of employees are keeping their usage under wraps from their managers.
Slack's new Workforce Index found that employees don't feel comfortable admitting AI use to their managers because they are afraid that it would make them seem lazy and less competent.
Employees also believe that using AI is cheating, which is contributing to their discomfort.
"Too much of the burden today has been put on workers to figure out AI. It's important that leaders not only train workers to use AI, but encourage employees to talk about it and experiment with AI out in the open," said Christina Janzer, SVP of Research and Analytics at Slack, in a statement.
"The arrival of AI agents – with clearly defined roles and guidelines – will also help with this, alleviating the ambiguity and anxiety many workers feel around using AI at work."
The findings come amid widespread excitement among Singapore's workforce to use AI tools at work.
The index found that 52% of employees in Singapore are already using AI at work, with 53% even excited about AI replacing some of their tasks.
It also found that employees would rather have their employers provide and enable AI tools at work - in fact, 87% consider this a consideration in their next job search.
The hype surrounding AI follows reports that it could save employees time during the work week, with recent research estimating between 10 and 12 hours a week.
Slack's Workforce Index found that employees in Singapore plan to do the following tasks with the time saved using AI:
With the benefits surrounding AI use, it comes as no surprise that 88% of employees in Singapore already feel the urgency to become an AI expert. According to the report, 63% of employees are already spending less than five hours learning how to use AI.
The desire for further AI training has been reflected in recent reports, with courses on generative AI surging by 240% in Singapore in 2024.
Raghav Gupta, Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Coursera, previously said this surge indicates that Singaporean learners are embracing the future of work.
"Their progress amidst GenAI's disruption shows their resilience, adaptability, and drive to lead on a global stage," Gupta said in a previous statement.
