A critical disconnect remains between employers and employers when it comes to generative artificial intelligence (AI). While employers are enthusiastically investing in AI tools, employee understanding and use remains low.
Slingshot’s latest Digital Work Trends Report highlights how just 23 per cent of employees are confident in their ability to use AI, which means a staggering 77 per cent are unsure how to use AI effectively.
Employers are clearly betting on AI’s potential, and have introduced AI tools with specific intentions, like supporting initial research for tasks and projects (62 per cent), helping employees manage workflow (58 per cent), and facilitating data analysis (55 per cent).
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5 jobs to discover now
- Capital Risk Solutions Manager, NatWest, Birmingham
- Technical Product Operations Analyst, Allica Bank, London Area
- Systematic Crypto Researcher, Aurum Search Limited, London Area
- Lead Funding Coordinator, Concept, England
- VP Compliance – Fintech, Marsden, London Area
Most employees (two-thirds) are primarily using AI as a verification tool, double-checking their existing work, rather than automating first drafts of research and data interpretation, and streamlining processes.
However, many workers are using tools that are AI-powered, but which you don’t need to be technically-minded to master. For example, Robin by Amply is an AI-powered talent engagement agent that uses conversational search to help professionals look for new jobs and match their CV to roles that align with their skills and experience.
Productivity hacks
This disconnect extends to perceptions of productivity, though the differences are less severe.
Some 60 per cent of employers believe AI is significantly increasing employee productivity, but only 44 per cent of employees agree. Even more telling, 10 per cent of employees assert that AI is not enhancing their productivity at all.
Despite all this, most employees are reclaiming time in their workday through AI – 42 per cent report gaining 1-2 hours, while 37 per cent say they’ve reached 3-4 hours of time saving.
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The data gap
One considerable barrier to comprehensive AI adoption is data readiness. Nearly half of employers (45 per cent) haven’t fully implemented AI because their organisational data isn’t prepared, and 19 per cent specifically cite data readiness as the primary obstacle to AI adoption.
Many companies face a specific challenge. Often, data remains siloed across various departments, platforms, and channels, instead of being centralised. Without a unified data approach, AI’s true potential remains unrealised.
If you’re data-minded, this could be a space where you can add real value for your company, or if you are job hopping.
Upskilling in AI
If you’re making any professional resolutions for 2025, consider investing time in AI training.
By understanding data centralisation strategies, and learning how to effectively improve workflows, you can create free time for yourself, and position yourself as a project-leading AI professional who can practically and meaningfully apply this technology.
But before you go paying out of pocket, ask internally about development budgets. If your organisation is part of the 32 per cent that recognise the need for more AI training, you could be in luck.
5 more jobs to consider
- Product Manager – FinTech ScaleUp, Curated, United Kingdom
- Senior Java Developer – FinTech, Oliver Bernard, London Area
- VP Compliance – Fintech, Marsden, London Area
- Compliance Manager (Fintech), X4 Technology, United Kingdom
- Structured Credit Analyst, CARDO AI, London Area
And the gains won’t just apply in your current role, gen AI is expected to play a critical part in risk management, particularly in fraud detection.
Read more: UK workers are increasingly using generative AI, despite lack of training
Picture a bank using AI to speed train its transaction monitoring, for example. There’s also the potential application of gen AI in compliance, which is all-the-more crucial as AI regulations continue to evolve across territories.
Or if you work in a more technical role, learning how to use synthetic data to simulate how customers and clients might respond to new products, features and even economic downturns, is also a really attractive proposition.
Ultimately, professionals who are set to thrive in the coming years are those who learn to harness AI as a strategic tool, whether that’s inside their existing organisation or somewhere new.
But by positioning yourself as an AI-literate professional, you’re increasing your chances of landing exciting and well-paid career opportunities.
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Article written by Amanda Kavanagh at Amply.
