The results of a new study show that corporate pressure to widely adopt generative AI has led some employees to exaggerate how much they use or how skilled they are with the technology.
According to ITNA quoting Techspot, based on a survey by people analytics company Visier of one thousand full-time employees in the US, 48 percent of respondents admitted they overstated their use of AI or their expertise with it to influence managers or colleagues.
This phenomenon, called "performative AI," stems above all from a lack of adequate training, clear guidelines, and confidence about how to use AI tools effectively. About 45 percent of employees said they feel pressured to use the technology but are not sure they can use it correctly.
The survey also shows many employees believe managers do not fully understand AI’s capabilities and its impact on the workplace. Only 28 percent of respondents believe their employers have a good understanding of how to use AI at work. Also, only 29 percent think managers understand concerns related to the technology well, and 33 percent believe managers are aware of the amount of training employees need.
On the other hand, 32 percent of employees said their companies do not have a clear plan to measure AI’s impact on the workplace. In contrast, about 32 percent want more training and upskilling opportunities, 31 percent want more transparency, and 18 percent need clearer explanations about AI’s impact on their job prospects.
Some companies have been monitoring employees’ use of AI tools to boost productivity. However, such policies have sometimes backfired; for example, reports have emerged of Amazon employees overstating their use of internal AI tools. Some developers have also warned that being forced to use the technology can weaken specialized skills and increase the volume of low-quality code.
Overall, the findings indicate that to truly benefit from AI in the workplace, targeted training, managerial transparency, and setting realistic expectations are more important than forcing employees to continuously use these tools.