Google recently released a pilot report indicating that employees can save over 122 hours of work annually by using artificial intelligence (AI) for administrative tasks.
The report suggests that providing employees with a few hours of basic training can quickly improve their technological proficiency and potentially boost overall economic growth. Analysis in the report shows that leveraging AI's potential could increase UK economic growth by as much as £400 billion (approximately ¥3.88 trillion RMB).
Image Source Note: Image generated by AI, image licensing provider Midjourney
In the pilot program, titled "AI Works," Google collaborated with Public First to conduct in-depth research. They found that roughly two-thirds of participants had never used generative AI in their work. This was particularly true among older women in lower socioeconomic groups. Debbie Weinstein, President of Google Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, stated that the pilot, encompassing small businesses, educational trusts, and trade unions, revealed an average time saving of 122 hours for employees on administrative tasks.
Despite this, many employees remain hesitant about using AI at work, citing concerns about its perceived lack of "legitimacy" or "fairness." Weinstein emphasized the need for a kind of "permission to use" AI at work, highlighting the importance of explicitly allowing its use.
Once employees started using AI, a few hours of training significantly boosted their confidence and doubled their usage frequency, an effect that persisted for months. Google's report notes that these simple interventions effectively narrowed the gap in AI adoption across different groups. For example, women over 55 saw their weekly AI usage increase from 17% to 56% after three months of training, and daily usage rose from 9% to 29%.
Through this research, Google aims to encourage greater adoption of AI technology by businesses and employees to improve work efficiency and drive sustained economic growth.
Key Takeaways:
🌟 Employees can save 122 hours of work annually using AI for administrative tasks.
📈 AI could boost UK economic growth by £400 billion.
👩🏫 Simple training significantly improves employee confidence and frequency of AI use.
