As artificial intelligence is picking up pace in offices and witnessing a massive surge in adoption, employees are starting to worry about what it may mean for their jobs. Matt Call, an associate professor of management at the Mays School of Business, said employees feel anxious because their leaders are not transparent about AI plans.
Call points out that the significant problem is not AI itself but the uncertainty around it, which may cause layoffs, fear and surveillance as companies rapidly adopt AI tools without explaining how they will be used to the workforce.
From geopolitics to AI, the timesnownew.com gets the views from the best in the world. With the help of US experts, we decode how AI is causing fear in the workforce.
Why Are Employees Afraid Of AI?
According to Professor Call, workers in the world are nervous because they do not know how AI will affect their jobs and future. He stated, “Everybody is nervous. When you do not reveal to employees something, they fill in the gaps, and it usually begins with their paranoia that the gaps are filled in with.” He suggested that many people are worried not only about losing their jobs but also about how the artificial intelligence technology may change their lives for future generations.
Which AI Tools Are Companies Using?
The call revealed that enterprise-level AI is getting integrated into workplace software. These include AI features inside ChatGPT, Claude and Microsoft Office. According to him, these tools can learn how the workforce operates over time because workers use them regularly for communication, workflow management, writing and research.
Why Are Companies Struggling With AI Adoption?
The call highlighted that several executives are caught in difficult situations. On one side, they started to fear falling behind in the AI race. On the other hand, they feel worried about adopting the tech too quickly without understanding the potential risks. He stated, “Most executives at this point, their simultaneous worry was not moving fast enough but also moving too fast.”
He added that several companies believe AI would reduce costs and replace workers efficiently. However, these companies are now discovering that AI tools do not often operate as smoothly as expected. Due to this reason, businesses that removed staff due to AI are reportedly bringing their employees back after realising the tech still needs human support.
Is AI Already Leading To Layoffs?
The call answers ‘Yes’. As per him, workforce reductions are related to AI, and it will continue to happen. He believes that companies are reducing their staff in areas where they feel AI can handle tasks better. But layoffs often create fear among the remaining employees. He explained, “There’s a lot of data to support the idea that survivors of the layoff often undergo a really increased amount of uncertainty.”
According to his research, nearly 85 per cent of respondents felt organisations were using AI as a ‘boogeyman’ or an excuse for layoffs. Moreover, companies might be using AI to justify wider decisions.
What Is The Solution?
Call suggested that organisations require more transparency and honest conversations with their workforce about AI. He mentioned businesses should discuss how AI can affect staffing, workplace monitoring and productivity, even if they do not have all the answers with them. He said, “What I am in favour of is just having more conversations, asking more questions.”
As per Professor Call, the trust between the workforce and employers can grow only if companies explain their vision and allow workers to understand how AI can shape their future.
