Over 80 per cent of workers in the United Arab Emirates using AI tools in the workplace report that it saves them more than two hours per week and adds value to their work.

The report titled "Global AI Workplace Report" by Freshworks surveyed over 7,000 professionals globally across HR, IT, customer service and support, finance and accounting, sales, marketing, and legal functions. The report also highlights that employees in the Middle East have the highest levels of AI usage and expertise, with 88 per cent of them using AI-powered software solutions.

Key findings from the report include:

Trust in Organisation approved AI tools: The report reveals that 86 per cent of UAE workers have high trust in workplace AI software and believe it adds value to their work. In the US, only 59 per cent workers have trust in their workplace AI softwares. 

Leaders in AI: Over 75 per cent of the UAE workforce currently uses AI in their jobs, highlighting the region's rapid adoption of AI tools. In contrast, only 50 per cent of the U.S. workforce has actively integrated AI into their work. 

AI based job roles: Interestingly, over 70 per cent of UAE workers report that every new position in their department now requires some level of AI expertise, particularly in IT and Marketing roles.

When compared to the U.S. and the UK, the need for AI specialists is much lower, with only 30 per cent of roles requiring AI experience. Additionally, 63 per cent of global workers using AI feel it gives them an edge over colleagues who don't use it, and 70 per cent of workers want to enhance their AI skills to remain competitive in the job market.

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Increasing investments in AI: Interestingly, 65 per cent of global workers believe that companies using AI are more likely to be industry leaders, highlighting the need for organisations to increase investments in AI technologies.

Last year, 57 per cent of managers and senior-level employees in the Middle East revealed that their departments would allocate more funds for AI-powered software products. They agreed that AI-enabled software could significantly impact businesses within two years. Additionally, 56 per cent of senior managers, particularly in IT and Marketing departments, stated that the ROI for AI is better compared to other software within their organisation.

The need for privacy and training: The report finds that over 30 per cent of the global workers are worried about the authentication of data provided by AI tools like ChatGPT. This raises concerns that a significant amount of potentially sensitive company information could be leaked and used to train future versions of other companies’ AI models. In addition to this, data privacy remains a major concern for surveyed organisations as well, to ensure their sensitive data remains safe.

Commenting on the report findings, Sandie Overtveld, Senior Vice President & General Manager - APJ & MEA at Freshworks said, "This study presents a fascinating overview of AI adoption globally. We are particularly impressed by the high levels of usage and expertise in India and the Middle East. However, privacy issues are a concern to many. In order to foster trust and fully realise the advantages of this technology, businesses must place a high priority on data protection and ethical AI practices."