Microsoft highlights 4 key takeaways from its Work Trend Index

Kevin Okemwa

Microsoft - Cloud Financial Services

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Microsoft just released its annual Work Trend Index report earlier this week which highlighted how AI is revolutionizing how people are interacting with work. The report further disclosed that “crush of data, information, and always-on communication” were some of the deterrents preventing employees from being productive and creative.

The company has now published a new blog post highlighting four key takeaways from the 2023 Work Trend Index research report. Here’s what you need to know:

First up, digital debt is negatively impacting the performance index for employees at the workplace. Per the report’s findings, 64 percent of the people surveyed indicated that they didn’t have adequate time to accomplish tasks assigned to them. In turn, this also impacted their creativity making it difficult to come up with ideas.

Next up, it was also discovered that meetings also had an impact on the employees’ productivity at the workplace. Specifically, inefficient meetings as well as too many meetings, ranked as the first and third productivity disruptors respectively.

The employees surveyed further disclosed that despite knowing this, they felt that they would get access to crucial information that would help them execute their duties at work better which is why they keep on attending these meetings.

However, Microsoft indicated that with the help of AI, meetings can become more insightful and impactful. The tool has the capability to transform meetings from being just a point in time to a digital artifact featuring intelligent meeting recaps, transcripts, and recordings.

Additionally, the increased popularity of AI across the globe has raised fear among employees. Most of them believe that AI will eventually take their jobs. However, the report fetched interesting insights with 70% of the surveyed population indicating that they were excited about the injection of AI across organizations.

They added that they were looking forward to delegating most of their duties to AI. Only 49% of the population were worried about the tool putting them out of work.

And finally, 82% of the leaders taking part in the survey indicated that employees need to have elaborate measures in place to better prepare them for the future that is AI. These elaborate measures include new skills like when to use it, how to write great prompts, how to evaluate creative work, and how to check for bias.

As such, it was established that it is important for employees to interact and experiment with AI to better prepare themselves for the future as well as build their aptitude.

Moving forward, it will be impossible for organizations to steer away from AI and its capabilities as it seems that’s where the world is headed right now. What are your thoughts on AI and its impact on organizations? Let us know in the comments.