Will the rise of AI mean that fewer workers will need to report to the office in person?
More than half (51 per cent) of workers globally believe that artificial intelligence will eventually eliminate the need for traditional office spaces.
Over six in 10 (62 per cent) would prefer AI-enhanced remote work over working in an office, while 71 per cent believe AI would provide greater flexibility and work-life balance, finds a survey of 2,500 global employees and IT leaders in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, India, Mexico and Brazil.
“AI is rapidly evolving from a helpful tool to a foundational force shaping the future of work,” says Rich Veldran, CEO of IT company GoTo, which released the report with Workplace Intelligence.
“As these technologies mature, they’re breaking down barriers to more flexible ways of working while enhancing in-person collaboration where it’s most impactful. The companies that embrace AI not just as a tool, but as a core part of their employee experience, will be the ones that redefine what it means to be productive, connected, and collaborative wherever work happens.”
Boosts to productivity from AI
Sixty-six per cent of the employees surveyed say AI would allow them to work from anywhere without losing productivity, and 65 per cent say it would help them better serve customers remotely.
By generation, AI is seen to have benefits for productivity for remote and hybrid workers:
- Gen Z (90 per cent)
- Millennials (84 per cent)
- Gen X (71 per cent)
- Baby boomers (74 per cent)
Already, with AI scribe technology, doctors and nurse practitioners spend 70 per cent to 90 per cent less time doing paperwork, according to OntarioMD (OMD), a subsidiary of the Ontario Medical Association (OMA). And AI may soon play a larger role in employee support, with previous research showing it can outperform humans – even trained professionals – in delivering compassionate and empathetic communication.
Using AI effectively
IT leaders are even more optimistic about AI’s impact, with 90 per cent reporting improvements in flexibility, productivity, and customer service for remote employees. However, the GoTo study reveals a disconnect: while 91 per cent of IT leaders believe their company uses AI effectively to support remote and hybrid teams, only 53 per cent of employees agree, indicating an area for improvement.
The research also found that nearly all employees (95 per cent) and IT leaders (92 per cent) support their company’s current investment in AI or believe more should be done. Notably, 61 per cent of employees think organisations should prioritise AI investments as much as, or more than, in-office amenities, with the same proportion saying AI would improve their productivity, motivation, and engagement more than office perks—even among those who primarily work on-site.
“Our study findings reflect a broader shift in workplace expectations,” says Dan Schawbel, managing partner at Workplace Intelligence. “Many workers now see flexibility, not location or amenities, as the cornerstone of effective work. AI helps bridge time zones, streamline communication, and provide access to institutional knowledge, making physical offices feel less critical to a growing number of employees.”
‘Transformative superpower’
In a report published earlier this year, McKinsey & Company called on employers to better invest in AI.
“This is the moment for leaders to set bold AI commitments and to meet employee needs with on-the-job training and human-centric development.
“As leaders and employees work together to reimagine their businesses from the bottom up, AI can evolve from a productivity enhancer into a transformative superpower—an effective partner that increases human agency. Leaders who can replace fear of uncertainty with imagination of possibility will discover new applications for AI, not only as a tool to optimise existing workflows but also as a catalyst to solve bigger business and human challenges.”
Canadian businesses could face an uphill battle harnessing AI as a previous KPMG study revealed that the country’s workforce trails much of the world in both confidence and literacy related to AI systems.
Source – https://www.hrreporter.com/focus-areas/automation-ai/will-the-rise-of-ai-mean-fewer-in-office-employees/393204