AI is causing anxiety for managers: If it outperforms me, I could see a decrease in salary

According to news on April 29, the latest survey shows that managers are generally worried that the widespread application of powerful generative artificial intelligence tools such as OpenAI ChatGPT in the workplace may have an adverse impact on their salary levels.

Image source Pixabay

Advertisement

To gain insights into managers’ attitudes toward AI technology, AI startups Beautiful.ai A recent survey of 3,000 U.S. employees in management positions was conducted. The results show that,48% of managers believe AI tools will pose a threat to their compensation, predicting this trend will further exacerbate the nationwide wage decline in 2024.

This concern is not unfounded, and partly stems from people’s high recognition of the capabilities of artificial intelligence. As many as 64% of respondents believe that the output and productivity of artificial intelligence are “equal” or even “possibly better” than the quality of work that human managers can produce.

In fact, artificial intelligence technology has become increasingly powerful and diverse. For example, since its launch in November 2022, ChatGPT has been able to generate videos, create marketing materials, write lesson plans, and more. In early March, startup Cognition launched Devin, which it calls “the first AI software engineer” capable of fixing bugs and training other AI models.

Additionally, executives appear uneasy about the potential for these tools to result in lower employee pay.Beautiful.ai ’s survey showed that 62% of executives surveyed said that their employees believe that artificial intelligence will eventually cause them to lose their jobs. Meanwhile, 45% of executives believe the technology will lead to lower pay across the entire workforce.

Advertisement

The survey also noted: “There is no doubt that the introduction of AI tools has caused employees to question their value to the company.”

A growing body of research reveals a common sentiment: Employees generally believe AI technology will have an impact on their income. In May last year, market research software platform Pollfish released a survey showing that nearly 79% of U.S. employees expressed concerns about the adoption of artificial intelligence technology, including that it would lead to a decrease in their salary levels.

Not only that, but the technology appears to be starting to pose a threat to some jobs.According to the unemployment tracker Layoffs.fyi According to data, as of April 28, more than 70,000 employees in the technology industry have been laid off in 2024. Analysts pointed out that this phenomenon may be closely related to the increase in investment in artificial intelligence. For example, the CEO of an e-commerce company revealed that he replaced 90% of his support staff with AI chatbots. One freelance writer complained that she was starting to lose clients to artificial intelligence like ChatGPT.

However, artificial intelligence technology is not entirely negative; it may also help increase wages. A December study by tech consulting firm Access Partnership found that employers are willing to offer at least a 30% pay increase to workers with AI skills. In order to attract these talents, large companies even offer salaries well in excess of six figures. In addition, generative artificial intelligence has given rise to new careers, such as ChatGPT course guidance and content editing.

While there are still many unknowns about how artificial intelligence will revolutionize the world of work, Beautiful.ai According to data from , 64% of managers said that since the beginning of 2024, they have begun to use artificial intelligence technology in daily or weekly employee management.

The survey states: “Businesses can expect to see more possibilities from artificial intelligence in the future. The question is no longer if this technology should be adopted in the workplace, but when and how to effectively integrate it into daily operations. ”

Advertisement