Microsoft says 75% of office workers already use AI at work

In its annual labor trends index Microsoft unsurprisingly released some new data on artificial intelligence in the workplace. The key statistic is this: According to their survey, 75% of “knowledge workers” are already using generative AI at work, and this number has doubled in the last six months alone.

The study defines “knowledge workers” as “those who typically work at a desk (in an office or at home),” which represents a fairly broad demographic group.

Companies have developed a number of policies regarding the use of AI. Some companies and organizations are banning ChatGPT from the start, while others agree that AI is a necessity, according to Microsoft, with 41% of executives rebuilding their entire business from the ground up to focus on AI. It is reported that 79% of executives need to start using AI to “stay competitive,” and 60% are concerned that their organization “lacks a plan and vision for implementing AI.”

There is clearly a lot of anxiety in the air about the rapid rise of generative AI to the top.

However, regardless of company policy, this 75% statistic cannot be avoided. In fact, Microsoft says that 52% of these workers don’t want to admit that they use AI for their “most important tasks,” and 53% are concerned that using AI for these tasks will make them “replaceable.”

The survey goes on to say that 78% of these workers use their own AI tools to speed up tasks, regardless of whether their company provides those tools or has a strategy for them.

Why? – you ask. Well, according to a survey, knowledge workers are overworked and tired, and AI can help with that. “AI power users” say generative AI is useful for several reasons. For example, 92% believe that AI makes workloads more manageable and increases their creativity. And 91% even say that AI makes them enjoy their work more.

Needless to say, all of this data points in favor of Microsoft, a company that has invested heavily in the use of AI. Second pilot It integrates into all your applications and services, including Windows itself. These days, even new laptops come with a built-in Copilot dongle for even easier access to AI.