A study by Salesforce has found that over a third of Spanish workers (39%) believe that mastering generative artificial intelligence (AI) will help them advance in their careers. However, the report warns that companies may be putting themselves at risk due to the lack of clear policies around the use of this technology.
According to the research, 61% of Spanish workers claim to have used generative AI tools that are not formally approved by their company, and up to 33% have used them despite being expressly prohibited. Many employees turn to new technology without any training, guidance or approval from their company.
The study, titled ‘The Promises and Challenges of Generative AI at Work’, surveyed more than 14,000 workers from fourteen countries, including Spain. It highlights that company policies and training around generative AI are not well-defined or, at best, ambiguous. Despite this, workers recognize the importance of this technology in advancing their careers, with 74% saying it makes them more productive.
However, the lack of training and defined policies has led users to engage in ethically questionable activities when using generative AI at work. For example, some employees have passed off AI-generated work as their own or inflated their skills. Moreover, the report reveals that 86% of Spanish workers believe there are barriers to using generative AI at work.
The report emphasizes the need for companies to invest in safe, ethical and reliable generative AI tools and train their employees on the safe and ethical use of AI. It concludes that it is not a matter of whether companies use generative AI but how they do it effectively, safely and ethically.