Microsoft and LinkedIn have released the findings from their 2024 Work Trend Index, focusing on the adoption of AI in Indian workplaces. According to the report titled ‘AI at Work is Here. Now Comes the Hard Part,’ AI has rapidly integrated into professional settings over the past year. It shows that 92% of Indian knowledge workers are using AI at work, significantly higher than the global average of 75%. This confidence in AI's benefits, such as saving time and enhancing creativity and focus, is also reflected in the views of Indian leaders, with 91% believing AI adoption is essential for competitiveness though 54% worry their organisations lack a clear AI strategy.
Employees in India are taking the initiative with AI, with 72% bringing their own AI tools to work. This proactive use of AI by employees indicates a significant opportunity for leaders to convert individual productivity into organisational gains.
The presence of AI in job postings on LinkedIn has increased response rates by 17%, suggesting that companies providing AI tools and training will attract top talent, while professionals with AI skills will have a competitive advantage. In India, 75% of leaders consider AI proficiency crucial for hiring, a higher percentage than the global average of 66%. Furthermore, 80% of Indian leaders prefer hiring candidates with AI skills over more experienced candidates without such skills.
There has been a dramatic increase in LinkedIn members globally adding AI skills such as Copilot and ChatGPT to their profiles, with a 142-fold increase. Additionally, there has been a 160% rise in non-technical professionals using LinkedIn Learning courses to develop their AI capabilities.
The report categorises AI users into four types: skeptics, novices, explorers, and power users. In India, power users, who use AI extensively, start and end their workdays with AI and are more likely to seek advice and experiment with AI compared to skeptics. These power users are 20% more likely to receive training and 65% more likely to get communication about AI from top management, highlighting the importance of training and communication.
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Irina Ghose, Managing Director of Microsoft India and South Asia, noted the high AI adoption rate among Indian knowledge workers and its positive impact across various sectors. Ruchee Anand, Head of Talent & Learning Solutions at LinkedIn, emphasised AI’s transformative effect on the workplace and the growing demand for AI expertise.
Microsoft announced new features in Copilot for Microsoft 365 to help integrate AI, while LinkedIn introduced over 50 free learning courses to improve AI skills among professionals. These initiatives aim to support the effective adoption of AI in the workplace.
Microsoft and LinkedIn continue to develop AI-driven platforms and tools to meet evolving customer needs, aiming to empower individuals and organisations globally.
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