Employer Generative AI (GenAI) adoption is being held back by (perceived) talent scarcity…
Impact on STEM professions
When considering STEM professions, research by Matchtech in late 2023 determined that 25% believe that there will be substantial change within the next 5 years in the role that they perform, 6% believe that their role will be at risk whilst 2% believe that it won’t exist.
STEM professionals perceived a role change in the next 5 years
26% My role will largely remain the same
20% My role is going to change substantially and decline in significance
5% My role is going to change substantially and grow in significance
41% The requirements of my role will evolve, but the needs will remain similar
6% My role could be at risk
2% My role won't exist
And as to what extent they attribute the level of change to the impact of AI / automation, almost three quarters believe that it will have a high (28%) or some impact (45%).
All respondents: the likely impact AI/automation on the anticipated level of change to their role
28% High impact
45% Some impact
27% Negligible impacy
Our recommendation
Leverage the GenAI adoption among your workforce. Since your employees are already familiar with its potential and have proactively learned how to use it, they can serve as valuable support for the company's journey into GenAI integration.
By tapping into their expertise, you can effectively bridge the 'trust gap' and facilitate a smoother implementation of GenAI technologies within the organisation.
"Three quarters of leading companies, which we call Reinventors, are actively involving workers to shape the change and redesign their work and roles. Reinventors understand that GenAI isn't about replacing people with technology but elevating work and enhancing peoples’ experiences so they feel Net Better Off at work."
Accenture: Work, workplace, workers reinvented in the age of generative AI
Scale and nature of AI adoption
Current users
A UK study by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) provides a useful insight into the scale and nature of AI adoption – with applications far from reserved for just larger UK enterprises. Beyond the obvious sectors of adoption, there is notable activity within the Education sector involving the use of GenAI for text and visual content generation.
UK businesses currently using AI
11-24 December 2023
Source: Matchtech analysis of ONS data
Usage
Large organisations are focusing their use of AI to improve business operations, whilst a notable proportion of micro enterprises are additionally using it to develop new products or services and drive personalization.
What businesses with currently deployed AI are using it for
Source: Matchtech analysis of ONS data
Means of AI adoption
And in terms of the means through which AI has been adopted to date, four in ten (41%) enterprises have purchased ready-to-use external software – with a notable recent uptick in this form of adoption within micro enterprises. Conversely, there was a surge between September and December in businesses in Info & Communication bringing development in-house.
How UK businesses have adopted AI
Source: Matchtech analysis of ONS data
Scale and nature of AI adoption
A UK study by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) provides a useful insight into the scale and nature of AI adoption – with applications far from reserved for just larger UK enterprises. Beyond the obvious sectors of adoption, there is notable activity within the Education sector involving the use of GenAI for text and visual content generation.