The study took place between April and May this year, with 8,835 responses, 450 of which from Scotland.

It indicated that 57% of employers and 56% of workers have a positive attitude towards AI. Despite the largely optimistic view of the technology, only a third of employers are upskilling their employees in AI technology.

This led Hays – the workforce solutions and recruitment company who ran the survey – to question how it could be integrated into workplaces in a balanced way. “The integration of AI has to be balanced with human capabilities,” said Keith Mason, Hays Scotland director.

The survey shows that using AI tools could lead to cost saving and fix inefficiencies. However, businesses should focus on job transformation and not worker replacement.  

“Employers say they don’t have the right skills within their workforce to make the best use of AI. It’s a huge opportunity for professionals to upskill in getting to know how AI could affect their profession, and how they can utilize AI tools to advance their careers,” said Mason.

As it stands, less than one-in-five professionals have used AI tools like ChatGPT in their current role, the top three sectors using it being technology, architecture, and sales. Professionals between the ages 20-29 report higher usage (37%) of AI tools than any other age demographic.

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According to the research, embracing AI could bridge the skills gap alive in the tech industry today, which costs the UK economy as much as £63 million per year in potential GDP. 

Embracing AI can also position businesses as desirable in the tech job market which cited 870,000 vacancies last year, according to a report from adzuna.

The issue with integrating AI lies not in low interest, but in low uptake. Employers in all sectors grapple with understanding how AI could benefit their organisations.