Singapore workers embrace AI but fear revealing usage

Slack has released its latest Workforce Index, which reveals a significant disparity between the enthusiasm surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) among workers in Singapore and their reluctance to openly discuss using it.

The report indicates that while AI adoption is increasing, with 52% of workers in Singapore utilising AI in their work, 45% are hesitant to disclose this usage to their managers. This reluctance stems from fears of being perceived as incompetent, lazy, or as if they are cheating.

The Workforce Index surveyed 17,372 workers globally, including 1,008 respondents from Singapore. A key finding is that Singaporean workers hide their AI usage due to fear and confusion. Nearly half of those surveyed are uncomfortable admitting to AI use due to concerns about how they might be viewed by their supervisors.

In response to the growing gap between the capabilities of AI technologies and their adoption in the workplace, Christina Janzer, Senior Vice President of Research and Analytics at Slack, stated, "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. 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."

Another aspect the report highlighted is the misalignment between executive priorities and employee expectations regarding the time saved through using AI. Executives worldwide are keen for employees to focus on learning, skill-building, and innovation. In contrast, employees hope to use the time gained from AI to manage existing workloads and administrative tasks.

The study also identifies a strong demand for AI training from employers. A striking 88% of workers in Singapore feel an urgency to become AI experts, yet 63% report spending less than five hours in total learning how to use AI. Moreover, 87% consider access to AI training and tools an important factor when considering potential employers.

On a global scale, individuals who have supportive guidance in utilising AI observed a 13 percentage-point increase in AI adoption since January, in contrast to a mere 2 percentage-point rise among those lacking guidance. This underscores the importance of employer-led AI education and support in boosting technology uptake.

The overarching findings of Slack's Workforce Index underscore the need for clear guidelines and support structures to bolster AI adoption in workplaces. Employers are encouraged to address this need to retain and attract AI-savvy talent, as many job seekers value the provision of AI tools highly. The potential benefits of such an investment are substantial, with AI poised to significantly elevate productivity and innovation across various sectors, provided that concerns around its integration are adequately addressed.