The Institute for the Future of Work’s latest paper explores the extent of AI adoption in UK firms and how choices about the design, development and deployment of technology impact quality of work, demand for skills and the creation of new jobs. Its findings support research from other workstreams that the outcome of technological transformation is not yet determined and a future where innovation and social good advance together is achievable.
Many studies emphasise the potential for widespread job displacement from exposure to AI technologies. Fewer studies also examine the actual impact on job creation, as well as skills demand, and the quality of jobs. Since AI may have multiple positive and negative consequences, it is important to know what drives outcomes, and which factors moderate its impact.
Drawing upon theories of technology adoption, we present an empirical study of factors influencing decision-maker perceptions of AI, which we hypothesise mediate organisation and environmental factors and adoption.
We theorise two moderators for the impact of AI on net job creation, skills demand, and job quality. First, Regional Innovation Readiness reflects the availability of enabling resources in the local environment, in the form of an educated workforce and the connectivity infrastructure. Second, High Involvement HRM is an investment orientation which includes employees in the process of adoption.