New Global Survey Finds Enterprises Lack Direction and Training for Workers on the Use of GenAI Tools

Rhea-AI Summary

UiPath (NYSE: PATH) published the 2024 Global Knowledge Worker Survey, revealing significant insights into the use of Generative AI (GenAI) and business automation. The survey, encompassing over 9,000 global workers, found that while GenAI tools save time (42% of users save 10+ hours weekly), combining GenAI with business automation yields greater benefits. Only 45% of workers receive training on GenAI, leading to mistrust (less than half trust GenAI outputs). Regionally, Singapore and Hong Kong report the highest time savings, while Japan, Germany, and the U.S. show the least trust in GenAI. The survey highlights a potential to alleviate worker burnout but emphasizes the need for proper training and direction.

Positive

• 42% of GenAI users save over 10 hours weekly.
• 48% of workers using GenAI can focus on more creative tasks.
• Combining GenAI with business automation saves 55% of users over 10 hours weekly.
• Greater productivity (43%) and more accurate work (39%) reported when using both GenAI and business automation.
• High trust in GenAI outputs in Singapore (67%), Korea (63%), and Hong Kong (62%).

Negative

• Only 45% of workers are trained on GenAI.
• Less than half (48%) trust GenAI outputs.
• High mistrust in GenAI in Japan (26%), Germany (47%), and the U.S. (48%).
• Increase in employee burnout, with 32% feeling extremely or very burnt out (up from 29% last year).

Annual UiPath survey finds employees believe GenAI tools have greater context when combined with business automation

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- UiPath (NYSE: PATH), a leading enterprise automation and AI software company, today published its annual Global Knowledge Worker Survey that uncovers how employees are using generative AI (GenAI), the shortcomings and risks of the technology, and the opportunity for combining GenAI with business automation.

The report—which is based on a survey of more than 9,000 workers from around the world—revealed that employees who use GenAI tools are saving more time in their workdays. However, those using both GenAI and business automation together achieve substantially more significant benefits.

While GenAI promises to revolutionize operations across industries, there is a lack of enterprise direction and training on the technology, leading to mistrust across global workforces. Currently, less than half (45%) of workers have been offered training or guidelines on how to use GenAI. Similarly, only 44% of employees think that GenAI has the context needed from their business’s data to support processes and drive value—though this number increases to 85% when employees use GenAI and business automation together.

Other key findings from this year’s report:

• GenAI provides significant time-saving benefits to workers: 42% of respondents who have implemented GenAI have saved 10 or more hours each week. By freeing up time in their days, almost half of workers (48%) have been able to focus on more creative tasks. Regionally, workers in Singapore and Hong Kong have seen the greatest time-saving benefits from implementing GenAI tools.
• The combination of GenAI and business automation maximizes the business value: When asked if employees have experienced any benefits from using GenAI and business automation software, respondents said greater productivity/get tasks done faster (43%), more accurate work (39%), and improved work/life balance (38%). When workers use the technologies together, 55% saved 10+ hours at work per week, compared to 31% of those who use only GenAI and 33% of those who use only business automation.
• However, there is a lack of trust around GenAI tools: Less than half (48%) of respondents indicate that they trust the outputs they get from GenAI tools. Regionally, Japan (26%), Germany (47%), and the U.S. (48%) trust GenAI’s outputs the least, and Singapore (67%), Korea (63%), and Hong Kong (62%) have the greatest trust in GenAI's outputs.
• GenAI is being applied across departments and for a variety of processes: The most common types of tasks employees use GenAI for include drafting communications (38%), brainstorming (34%), and summarizing long-form content (30%).

“GenAI tools are presenting an incredible opportunity for organizations to increase productivity and efficiencies, but employees must be provided with the proper training and upskilling opportunities to harness the full power of this technology,” said Brigette McInnis-Day, Chief People Officer at UiPath. “The technology must also be trusted and actionable—which is where business automation platforms serve as a critical foundation. The combination of these two technologies is a key differentiator for companies to maximize business value from GenAI and other AI models while empowering employees.”

The UiPath survey also uncovered that employees are feeling more burnout than ever before, with almost a third (32%) of respondents feeling extremely or very burnt out—compared to 29% of employees last year. GenAI presents an opportunity to alleviate the burdensome tasks that contribute to this issue; however, GenAI deployments will only be successful if workers are trained.

To view the full findings of the report, download the complete 2024 UiPath Global Knowledge Worker Survey here.

Methodology

In partnership with Researchscape, UiPath conducted this research via an online survey that was fielded in March–April 2024. There were 9,047 respondents to the survey from nine countries: the United States, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Korea, Hong Kong, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

About UiPath

UiPath (NYSE: PATH) is on a mission to uplevel knowledge work so more people can work more creatively, collaboratively, and strategically. The AI-powered UiPath Business Automation Platform combines the leading robotic process automation (RPA) solution with a full suite of capabilities to understand, automate, and operate end-to-end processes, offering unprecedented time-to-value. For organizations that need to evolve to survive and thrive through increasingly changing times, UiPath is The Foundation of Innovation™.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240611686389/en/

Media

Aileen Renteria

UiPath

pr@uipath.com



UiPath Investor Relations

Allise Furlani

UiPath

investor.relations@uipath.com

Source: UiPath

FAQ

What did the UiPath 2024 Global Knowledge Worker Survey reveal about GenAI tools?

The survey revealed that GenAI tools save time for 42% of users, with those combining GenAI and business automation saving even more.

How many workers have received training on GenAI tools according to the survey?

Only 45% of workers have been offered training or guidelines on using GenAI tools.

What percentage of employees trust the outputs from GenAI tools?

Less than half (48%) of the respondents trust the outputs they get from GenAI tools.

Which regions report the highest and lowest trust in GenAI outputs?

Singapore (67%), Korea (63%), and Hong Kong (62%) have the highest trust, while Japan (26%), Germany (47%), and the U.S. (48%) have the lowest trust in GenAI outputs.

What are the reported benefits of combining GenAI with business automation?

Combining GenAI with business automation results in greater productivity (43%), more accurate work (39%), and improved work/life balance (38%).