Less than a year after many of generative AI tools debuted, one-third of this McKinsey survey respondents say their organizations are using gen AI regularly in at least one business function. Nearly 25% of surveyed C-suite executives say they are personally using gen AI tools for work, and more than 25% of respondents from companies using AI say gen AI is already on their boards’ agendas.
The expected business disruption from gen AI is significant, and respondents predict meaningful changes to their workforces. They anticipate workforce cuts in certain areas and large reskilling efforts to address shifting talent needs.
The most commonly reported uses of generative AI tools are in marketing and sales, product and service development, and service operations.
Only few companies seem fully prepared for the widespread use of gen AI—or the business risks these tools may bring. Just 21% say their organizations have established policies governing employees’ use of gen AI technologies in their work.
Inaccuracy, cybersecurity, and intellectual-property infringement are the most-cited risks of generative AI adoption.
AI-related talent needs shift, and AI’s workforce effects are expected to be substantial. In the past year, organizations using AI most often hired data engineers, machine learning engineers, and Al data scientists. Roles in prompt engineering have recently emerged, as the need for that skill set rises alongside gen AI adoption.
More than two-thirds of respondents expect their organizations to increase their AI investment over the next three years.
