The contribution of time gain: When AI becomes a productivity brake, first appeared at the online magazine Basic Thinking. You can start the day well every morning via our newsletter update.
AI tools can now be found in many areas of everyday life. Artificial intelligence has also found its way into many people at work. But a lot of potential is currently being given away.
Artificial intelligence has developed rapidly in recent years. Especially since the publication of Chatgpt, AI tools have been used more and more in the wide mass.
By 2031, the number of AI tools users should Forecasts increase on an estimated 1.2 billion. An increase of more than 200 percent compared to 2025.
In the world of work, too, the use of AI tools is primarily intended to increase efficiency. But so far, workers have hardly gained a time, like one Survey of the job page Indeed Now shows.
AI at work brings little time saving
For the survey commissioned by Indeed, the Appinio market research institute asked around 500 people in Germany from April 30 to May 7 to May 7 who use AI at the workplace. The results of the survey show: So far, AI has hardly broken savings at work.
By using AI tools, around 75 percent of employed people save a maximum of three hours a week. This is especially the case with companies that have no open AI culture. In companies where the handling of AI is promoted, the time gains look much better.
Around 39 percent of those surveyed estimate that they save one to three hours a week through AI at work. It is even less than an hour for around 20 percent. On the other hand, around 16 percent of the respondents perceive no difference at all.
Almost 18 percent of the people surveyed have a weekly time period between three and six hours. With only eight percent, it is even more than six hours.
The time won is not transformed into productivity
But despite the partially available time savings, this time is not used for additional creative or productive work. Instead, around 21 percent of those surveyed take more private breaks. Around 23 percent take care of administrative tasks in the time won, another seven percent have more meetings.
Half of the employed people create “no strategic or innovative added value” in the time. The workers themselves perceive this themselves. Because around 47 percent of those surveyed believe that the time saved by AI is not used productively by their employer.
Missing AI culture in the workplace
According to the study authors, the problem is due to a lack of AI culture in many companies. Because according to 63.5 percent of those surveyed, the use of AI tools is not funded in the workplace. At eleven percent, use is even considered critical.
A lived AI culture, on the other hand, could have positive effects. This can be seen in the group of employed people, in whose companies the use of AI tools is actively promoted.
Because here 18 percent of the respondents of this group save more than six hours a week by AI. That is more than twice as many as on average of all respondents.
The number of those who use the saved time for private breaks also halve in these companies. Around 58 percent use the time for further training, creative or productive tasks.
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The contribution of time gain: When AI becomes a productivity brake, first appeared on Basic Thinking. Follow us too Google News and Flipboard Or subscribe to our update newsletter.
As a Tech Industry expert, I believe that the potential for AI to become a productivity brake is a real concern that must be addressed. While AI technologies have the potential to greatly increase efficiency and streamline processes, there is also the risk of becoming overly reliant on these technologies to the point where they actually hinder productivity.
One of the main reasons for this potential downside is the time and resources required to implement and maintain AI systems. Companies may invest significant time and money into developing and integrating AI solutions, only to find that they are not as effective as anticipated or require constant updates and adjustments to remain relevant.
Additionally, there is also the risk of AI systems making errors or providing inaccurate information, which can further slow down productivity and create additional work for employees who have to correct these mistakes.
To prevent AI from becoming a productivity brake, companies must carefully consider the costs and benefits of implementing AI technologies, ensure that they are properly trained and integrated into existing workflows, and regularly evaluate their performance to make necessary adjustments. It is important to strike a balance between leveraging AI for its potential benefits and not becoming overly dependent on it to the detriment of overall productivity.
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