Indian Workers Anxious about Job Losses, Yet Eager to Delegate Tasks

According to the Microsoft Work Trend Index 2023, a survey conducted among 31,000 workers in 31 countries, including 1,000 people in India, Indian workers have expressed concerns about losing their jobs to artificial intelligence (AI). However, despite these worries, a significant majority of Indian workers (83 percent) are willing to delegate tasks to AI in order to reduce their workloads. This trend has been labeled as the "new AI-employee alliance" in the report titled 'Will AI Fix Work?'

The survey revealed that Indian workers are open to utilizing AI in various aspects of their jobs. The majority (86 percent) are comfortable using AI for administrative tasks, while a similar percentage (88 percent) are willing to employ AI for analytical work. Additionally, 87 percent of Indian workers, including creative professionals, are comfortable incorporating AI in the creative aspects of their roles.

Interestingly, Indian managers are more likely to believe that AI will enhance productivity (1.6 times) rather than lead to job cuts. This positive perception aligns with the notion that AI can contribute value to the workplace.

The report emphasizes that not only experts but every employee needs to develop AI aptitude and acquire new core competencies, such as prompt engineering, to thrive in the evolving work environment.

The survey also highlights the challenges posed by the increasing pace of work, which has outpaced human capabilities and hindered innovation. A significant percentage (76 percent) of Indian workers feel they do not have sufficient time and energy to complete their tasks, and these individuals are 3.1 times more likely to struggle with innovation. Moreover, within Microsoft 365, employees spend the majority of their time (57 percent) on communication rather than creative activities (43 percent). Additionally, 78 percent of Indian workers agree that they lack uninterrupted focus during their workday.

Bhaskar Basu, Country Head – Modern Work, Microsoft India, acknowledged the transformative potential of AI in the workplace and emphasized the need for organizations and leaders to embrace AI effectively. He emphasized the importance of investing in AI while ensuring that all employees possess the necessary AI aptitude to thrive in the changing work landscape.

The Microsoft Work Trend Index 2023 collected data from various sources, including the survey responses of 31,000 individuals across 31 countries, trillions of signals from emails, meetings, and chats within Microsoft 365, as well as labor trends on LinkedIn. The study aimed to provide insights into the future of work and the impact of AI on employees globally.