Research reveals personality traits dictate AI acceptance in the workplace

New research by SnapLogic reveals worker attitudes and acceptance towards AI in the workplace, providing insights into how organisations can build an AI-inclusive culture.

The current business landscape is unpredictable, with more pressure than ever on budgets, resources, and employees. Using AI to automate processes and improve productivity is a solution to this problem.

However, having employee buy-in is a critical component for a successful rollout. With insight into employee sentiment around AI adoption, digital leaders can most effectively build an AI-inclusive culture to improve productivity and optimise business practices.

The survey, conducted by independent third-party research firm Censuswide, includes responses from nearly 1,000 mid-senior management workers within large enterprises across the US, UK, and Australia.

All survey respondents showed a strong grasp of AI’s benefits, with over half (54%) reporting that AI would save them time; 46% reporting it would improve productivity, and 37% reporting it would reduce risk and errors in their work.

Respondents also revealed primary factors that would make them more likely to use AI in their role, either now or in the future. 42% of respondents desire a better understanding of how AI would specifically benefit them in their role, while 36% want a safety net to reduce the risk that they would make mistakes.

Respondents’ personality scores revealed the underlying traits that dictated their views on AI. Respondents who scored low on the extraversion scale were more likely to embrace AI and have fewer concerns about using it – compared to their high-extraversion colleagues, who expressed more reservations.

Those who scored high on agreeableness and ‘openness to experience’ were more likely to have concerns about making mistakes when using AI.

Nearly two-thirds (66%) of respondents like the idea of using AI in their role, either currently or in the future. However, respondents believe skills are an issue, with one-third (34%) claiming there are very few people within their organisation with the skills required to implement and use AI.

39% said it would be hard to get everyone in their organisation to fully adopt AI, while 19% are worried that they would not be able to properly navigate using AI.

“The current business landscape is unpredictable, and that puts pressure on budgets and resources,” said Jeremiah Stone, CTO of SnapLogic. “Businesses are adapting to a turbulent environment by using AI in very specific, practical ways to improve productivity.”

“The biggest change is in mindset – seeing AI as a teammate which can learn, not a fixed tool, working to support its more ‘senior’, human colleagues, who in turn mentor and coach it to reduce errors and improve its output,” he said.

“Humans tend to cling onto information and behaviours that they know, which means they often reject new ways of working or adopting new skills,” said Danni Haig, business psychologist. “IT and business leaders should be understanding about AI scepticism and have a clear plan in place to address it, otherwise muchneeded change is far less likely to happen.”