AI at Work. The secret subscription.
British workers spend nearly a billion pounds a year on AI for their own jobs, and almost a third are hiding it. The better it works, the less you look needed.
THE GIST ON AI AT WORK: "Workers Paying for AI"
Who is paying for AI at work?
British workers are spending nearly a billion pounds a year on AI for their own jobs. That's already a bit odd, because the job is what their boss is paying them to do.
What's odder is that almost a third of them are keeping it a secret. The better it works, the better it looks like you're not needed.
Why the secrecy?
It saves about 70 minutes a week, and you'd think people would be shouting about it. But over 60% are worried their boss will find out. They'll think, hang on, if a computer's doing half your job, what am I paying you for?
So they pay for it themselves, use it and keep stumm. Which is a really weird way to treat a tool.
Why is AI different from a calculator?
No one was ever embarrassed about using a calculator, or felt guilty about spell check. Everybody knew it was a tool doing the boring bit while you did the thinking.
The problem with AI is that it also does a bit of the thinking. Once it's doing some of the thinking, who's to say who did or thought what?
So who did the work?
A third of the country is buying it, using it and hiding it to hang on to the credit. We're all getting more done than ever. We just can't quite tell who's doing it.
Can you honestly say your boss definitely can't?
Should you tell your boss you use AI?
Your take. One tap, then see how everyone else voted.
Quick answers
How much are British workers spending on AI?
Nearly a billion pounds a year, on AI for their own jobs.
How many hide it from their boss?
Almost a third keep it a secret, and over 60% are worried their boss will find out.
Why is AI different from a calculator?
A calculator does the boring bit while you do the thinking. AI also does a bit of the thinking, so it's harder to say who did the work.
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