Replacement of the workplace by robots? At this stage, the artificial intelligence only helps efficiency

New research reveals: specific work experience affects the effectiveness of using artificial intelligence in the workplace

New research reveals that work experience has a significant impact on how employees are more assisted by artificial intelligence. Employees with more specific task experience use AI more, while veteran employees are less likely to distrust AI due to fear of its shortcomings. The findings highlight the need for customized strategies for integrating artificial intelligence in the workplace to improve human collaboration with artificial intelligence.

New research from the Virginia Institute for Performance Research and Management Science published in INFORMS' Management Science journal offers valuable insights for business managers about the impact of work experience on employee interactions with artificial intelligence.

The study examines the effect of two main forms of human work experience - narrow experience, defined by the amount of specific tasks, and broad experience, characterized by general seniority - on the dynamics in human teams with artificial intelligence.

Surprising findings from a study that dealt with coding medical files

"We developed an artificial intelligence solution for coding medical files in a public company, and conducted a study among the company's knowledge workers," says Weiguang Wong from the University of Rochester and lead author of the study. "We were surprised by what we found in the study. The different dimensions of work experience have different interactions with artificial intelligence and unique roles in human collaboration with artificial intelligence.”

"While one might think that less experienced workers would benefit more from the use of artificial intelligence, we find the opposite - artificial intelligence benefits workers with more experience in the specific task. At the same time, veteran workers, despite their greater experience, derive less benefit from artificial intelligence than their younger colleagues," says Gordon Gao from the Carey School of Business at Johns Hopkins University, and a research partner.

The dilemma of seniority and trust in artificial intelligence

The continuation of the study reveals that the relatively small increase in productivity from artificial intelligence is not a result of seniority per se, but of the higher sensitivity of veteran workers to deficiencies in artificial intelligence, which reduces their trust in it.

"This finding is a dilemma: employees with more experience are in a better position to utilize artificial intelligence to increase productivity, but the veteran employees who take on more responsibility and care for the organization tend to avoid artificial intelligence because they see the risks of relying on artificial intelligence assistance. As a result, they don't make good use of artificial intelligence," says Ritu Aggarwal from Johns Hopkins University's Carey Business School, a research partner.

The researchers urge employers to carefully consider different types and levels of employee experience when introducing artificial intelligence into the workplace. New hires with less task experience are at a disadvantage in utilizing artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, veteran workers with more organizational experience may fear the potential risks posed by artificial intelligence. Answering these unique challenges is key to successful collaboration between people and artificial intelligence.

for the scientific article

More of the topic in Hayadan:

• Artificial intelligence can threaten some jobs, but it is more likely to become our personal assistant
• Israel adopts international principles for innovation and responsible use of artificial intelligence
• For the first time in Israel: implementation of artificial intelligence in government offices
• A document of the Knesset Research Center: Creative Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities, Risks and Regulation Part I