The use of AI is increasingly being promoted by employers. They recognize the possibilities of AI and are increasingly offering internal training.

According to a survey by Robert Half, nearly 40 percent of employers encourage the use of generative AI among their employees and offer internal training. In addition, nearly a third of the employees surveyed use AI almost daily and most companies offer internal training.

The survey was conducted among 1,500 respondents, including 500 employers and 1,000 employees in finance and accounting, IT, administration, human resources, office support and legal.

AI use established

AI is increasingly being used in various business areas. Employers are recognizing the benefits of AI for improving productivity. According to a study by Robert Half, 38 percent of employers say AI can contribute to a more efficient workplace. This is especially true for large companies with more than 250 employees, where 52 percent see AI as a productivity enhancer, compared to 24 percent for smaller companies.

Employers are encouraging their employees to explore the possibilities of AI and automate routine tasks. This is particularly the case in smaller companies, where more than half of employers encourage their employees to experiment with AI. In larger companies, this proportion is lower, which could indicate that AI is already more established there. “Companies are clearly in an exploration phase of AI,” says Jeroen Diels, regional managing director at Robert Half. “Encouraging employees to use AI can help them be more creative in their work or find a better work-life balance.”

Training and transparency

A third of employees use generative AI tools such as ChatGPT almost every day. To make the most of AI, most companies offer internal training. Only 5 percent of companies offer no AI training at all. The training methods offered range from internal training (48%) to mentoring (40%) to self-learning programs (38%). It is striking that only a quarter of companies commission external providers for AI training.

Transparency about AI use in the workplace is great. Three quarters of employees say they are open about their use of AI with their employer. Only 4 percent keep their AI use completely secret. Diels stresses the importance of having a clear policy around the use of AI, especially with regard to safety and ethical issues. “It is crucial that companies have policies in place to ensure the safety and ethical implications of AI use,” he concludes. “The recently adopted EU AI law will certainly play an important role in this.”