Trend barometer

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Does Not Scare Executives

At the end of 2022, the company OpenAI made its ChatGPT program available for general free use.

Currently: A Hype Surrounding Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Since then, a real hype has developed around the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) – not only on the stock market but also in the media. It has been described in the most vivid colors,

• the opportunities that AI offers companies, for example, to redesign and optimize their business processes, and

• the dangers posed by increased AI usage – for some professions or employees who hold certain functions in companies.

Therefore, the IFIDZ also conducted its latest Leadership Trend Barometer on the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) and leadership.

Executives Do Not Feel Threatened by Artificial Intelligence

The results showed: The executives in the companies approach the topic of artificial intelligence quite calmly. They do not expect their roles and responsibilities to change significantly due to increased AI usage. Accordingly, only two percent of the 158 surveyed executives are convinced that AI tools or systems could replace human executives in the medium to long term.

Executives Consider AI Systems as Helpful Tools

Rather, the majority of them (93 percent) are convinced that artificial intelligence (AI) can support them in their leadership work. For example, 56 percent of respondents expect that AI systems can relieve executives of “boring, repetitive tasks.” Furthermore, just over half of the executives (51 percent) are convinced that AI can help them and their employees to make decision-making processes “more efficient” and to make “better decisions.”

Executives Desire a Natural Use of AI Systems

Therefore, 57 percent of executives advocate for greater openness in their organizations regarding the use of AI in leadership – for problem-solving and achieving goals. They also wish for existing reservations about AI to be reduced so that it can be “used and deployed naturally.”

Executives Do Not Consider the AI Debate a Passing Hype

This is also in light of the fact that two-thirds of executives (66 percent) believe that “AI is no longer something we can imagine being without.” Accordingly, only three percent are convinced that the current AI debate is merely a hype that “will soon settle down.” However, it is striking that, according to their own statements, currently only 12 percent of executives already use AI tools for their leadership work as well as to enhance their personal performance and that of their area.

This means that there is still a significant discrepancy between executives’ openness to AI systems on one hand and their actual use in operational and leadership daily life on the other. This gap needs to be closed so that companies can optimally leverage the opportunities that AI offers them, for example, to optimize their business processes and to explore new business areas.