3 in 4 workers say AI reduced productivity and increased workloads, survey finds

• Three in four workers say AI tools have added to their workload, a recent survey found.
• Workers said they were spending more time reviewing AI content or learning how to use the tools.

Workers may not be reaping the promised AI productivity rewards just yet.

A recent survey from freelancing platform UpWork's Research Institute found that more than three in four workers, or 77%, said AI tools have decreased their productivity and added to their workload.

The survey included 2,500 respondents across the US, UK, Australia, and Canada, including 1,250 C-suite executives, 625 full-time, salaried employees, and 625 freelancers.

Respondents said the introduction of AI had led to more of their time being devoted to reviewing AI-generated content or learning how to use the tools. Almost a quarter of respondents also said they were being asked to do more work as a result of the new technology.

The survey found that while 85% of company leaders are pushing workers to use the technology, many workers are feeling overwhelmed by the added workload and complexity.

Companies have long hoped that the introduction of AI into workplaces could improve productivity and reduce the need for human labor. Over the last two years, several companies have paused hiring or laid off employees, citing gains from the new technology.

Around 39% of the companies surveyed are already making the use of AI tools mandatory, but nearly half of workers using AI said they have no idea how to achieve the productivity gains their employers expect.

There is evidence that using tools like ChatGPT at work can help employees get ahead, but the tech also has a tendency to hallucinate or invent facts. Many of these mistakes have already landed workers in trouble.