- Fragmented tools cost workers 51 days a year and AI doesn’t necessarily help
- Companies must provide workers with clearer guidance and use cases
- Failed policies lead to shadow AI use among enthusiastic workers
New research has claimed that the main problem with AI in the workplace is not the technology, chips or data centres, but is actually the humans using it.
A new report from WalkMe states that employees are said to lose an average of 51 days a year due to technology friction caused by bad tools, bad user experiences and other system problems, the equivalent of 7.9 hours per week, or about one workday.
The problem has also gotten worse since last year even though most companies have invested in AI to varying degrees, but rather than criticize AI for not addressing current inefficiencies, WalkMe says humans just need to reframe how they view the technology.
Article continues below.
The biggest problem with AI is the human element
The report details how the biggest problems with artificial intelligence are lack of skills and poor integration. Companies also fail to control AI internally, and poor governance, policies and procedures drive workers who are willing to experiment away and use unapproved (shadow) AI.
With 88% of executives confident that their workers have the right tools for the job and only 21% of employees agree, there is a clear disconnect at the organizational level.
“Technology will continue to improve,” CEO Dan Adika wrote. “What will not improve on its own is the human side: the trust gap, the governance gap, the question of who acts, when and with what barriers.”
Looking ahead, WalkMe says that investment does not equal impact and that simply investing more money in more tools will not work. To close the gap, companies must drive adoption before introducing even more tools, incorporate AI into workflows to address existing technological friction, and provide clear guidance to workers.
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