Organizations aiming for success with AI need to recognize the Five Persona types that are shaping the AI-driven workplace!
Nicolas BEHBAHANI
Global People Analytics Leader | Future of Work | Leading Global HR Analytics, Driving Business Growth
💡The attitudes and opinions of employees towards AI influence their behaviors and patterns of adoption.
⚠️ Onboarding employees into AI isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach.
🚀 Maximalists are the type of employees that all organizations love to have; their primary motivation for using AI at work is to produce work of higher quality.
🦾 2 in 5 desk workers say their company has no AI policy, and those workers are 6x less likely to have experimented with AI tools compared to employees at companies with established guidelines.
🎯 To fulfill the potential of AI, companies must ensure that AI serves the workforce and includes everyone in the AI journey, according to a new interesting research published by Slack Workforce Lab using data from a survey of 5,000 full-time desk workers in the United States, Australia, India, Singapore, Ireland and the U.K., and was fielded between August 6 and August 14, 2024. Researchers highlighted that this research was done with the partnership of YouGov and did not target Slack or Salesforce employees or customers.
✅The five categories of AI Personas
Researchers have classified employees into one of five categories below, each reflecting a distinct mix of emotions and perspectives about AI, depending on the category they belong to:
✔️ The Maximalist - 65% reveal their use of AI at work and actively encourage others to use it. Their #1 motivation to use AI at work is to produce higher quality work. Nearly half say the use of AI is actively encouraged at their company, regardless of having guidelines for use (or not)
Maximalists are using AI multiple times a week to improve their work and are shouting from the rooftops about it.
✔️ The Underground - 55% use AI at least a couple of times a week 74% don’t actively share about their use or encourage others to use AI 43% say their company doesn’t encourage the use of AI at work.
Undergrounds are Maximalists in disguise, using AI often but hesitant to share with their colleagues that they are doing so.
✔️ The Rebel - 66% never use AI at work, 58% believe AI is mostly a threat to society39% say it’s unfair if coworkers use AI to complete their tasks.
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✔️ The Superfan - 72% use AI less than once a month 76% admire coworkers who apply AI to their work in creative ways.
✔️ The Observer - 66% feel indifferent about AI in the workplace One-third are interested in learning or further developing AI skills.
📍 Researchers have determined that AI personas provide a valuable framework for leaders to gauge their employees' progress in the AI journey and to facilitate the unlocking of AI's potential benefits. Given the diverse viewpoints among office workers, the study emphasizes that AI enablement must be tailored to individual needs rather than adopting a uniform approach.
☝️ 𝙈𝙮 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬:
This interesting study - one among many published on AI and GenAI - reveals that employees have varied perceptions of this new technology, each at different stages of comprehension and implementation in the workplace. Researchers have highlighted five AI persona profiles, emphasizing that it's not about which one is superior or inferior. The goal isn't to convert every employee into a Maximalist rather than a SuperFan, but for leaders to grasp the level of AI maturity among their teams. Understanding this is vital for the successful deployment of AI tools and achieving business outcomes.
🙏 Thank you Slack researchers team for these insightful findings:
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1wNicolas BEHBAHANI very valuable insights about the adoption of AI. In general it emphasizes how important it is to use the torchbearers around the new technology. It's not the question about who is for it or against. The question that companies need to ask themselves is "how to benefit most effectively of AI". These outcomes will help to plot very fast who fits best for what occasion.
HRBP I Empowering Organizations through People Management I Employee Engagement I Employee Relations I I Talent Management I Passionate Talent Developer I Cultivating Inclusive Culture I Building High-Performing Teams
1wUnderstanding the five AI persona profiles is crucial for successful AI deployment and achieving business outcomes. Kudos to Nicolas BEHBAHANI for shedding light on this important aspect of the future of work.
Human Resource Professional | MBA | Coporate Recruiting Professional- ASA | Ex-Wirtgen Group,A John Deere Company
1wThis research is both fascinating and informative! AI adoption involves mindset as much as technology. Organizations and leaders should invest in understanding their workforce’s AI personas, from Maximalists to Observers, and tailor their strategies accordingly. Creating safe spaces for Undergrounds to share their AI experiences or addressing the fears of Rebels with clear communication and support can help turn hesitant users into AI advocates. It's not just about deploying technology; it’s about fostering a workforce that feels capable, confident, and connected in the AI era. Thank you so much for sharing!
Head Human Resources - Marketing
1wThanks Nicolas BEHBAHANI for sharing this wonderful article. Organizations striving for success must recognize five key employee personas shaping AI usage in the workplace: 1. **Maximalists** leverage AI to produce high-quality work and are highly valued. 2. **The Underground** (55%) use AI regularly but quietly, with 43% feeling their companies don’t encourage it. 3. **The Rebel** (66%) avoids AI, seeing it as a threat and unfair when used at work. 4. **The Superfan** uses AI sparingly but admires colleagues who use it creatively. 5. **The Observer** is indifferent but open to learning AI skills. To fully unlock AI’s potential, organizations should focus on educating employees about AI's benefits and clearly communicating how it can be used to enhance productivity. Providing support and training tailored to each persona will help employees embrace AI and maximize its impact on their work. This research underscores that leaders should use these personas to understand where employees are in their AI journey. The findings highlight the importance of a tailored approach to AI enablement—one that addresses the diverse attitudes and needs within the workforce.
PhD, DBA- HR 🎓 | Aspiring CHRO/HR Director 🚀 | HRBP | CPHR, SHRM-SCP 🌟 | Ready for Strategic Leadership
1wPreparation for Maximalists seems essential; their motivation drives successful AI integration. Nicolas BEHBAHANI