4 of 5 people in the Bay Area are using AI at work: Microsoft
(KRON) — Microsoft and LinkedIn have teamed up to release a report on the use of artificial intelligence in workplaces worldwide, and the Bay Area has been designated as the most welcoming to machine learning.
Four out of five workers in the Bay Area reported relying on AI for daily use. Despite the worry of reliance on the software, AI experts say dependability on AI could actually help people become more employable, too.
“Not surprisingly, what the report shows is that the Bay Area is leading when it comes to thinking about using AI at work,” Shawn Villaron, Vice President and General Manager of Powerpoint, told KRON4.
According to the report, over 80% of Bay Area workers report using generative AI at work, marking a 10% increase from the national average.
Villaron said Microsoft’s survey received over 31,000 respondents from across 31 different countries. He and other colleagues started the annual report in 2020 when artificial intelligence saw a rise in use with more people working from home.
The pandemic aside, Microsoft reports a near doubling in the use of generative AI in only the last six months, the report states.
“I think it’s mostly due to awareness of AI and people having the opportunity to try different forms of AI,” Villaron continued, claiming that Copilot users, Microsoft’s generative AI software, summarized over 4.4 million email threads since its conception in 2021.
Despite the increase in awareness and improvements to technology, Villaron believes a large reason behind the increase in use comes down to being more employable.
“When you look at the data, research shows that 79% of people are doing this because it will broaden their job opportunities,” Villaron said, commenting on how 8 of 10 Bay Area employers claim they would not hire someone without AI skills, the report said.
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The Bay Area might stand out as being the metro with the largest concentration of AI use in the workplace, but the report shows that other metros are quickly following suit.
In Atlanta, for example, 71% of their knowledge workers are already bringing generative AI to work. If you look at Houston, it’s 73%. Austin, it’s 71%. “So, while I think the Bay Area is ahead of the curve in many ways, this is also something that’s not going to be local to the Bay Area,” Villaron said.
Whether summarizing meetings or learning a new topic, Villaron says AI has transformed his life and the lives of those around him, no matter their background or profession.
I have an eleven year daughter who’s a girl scout, and she does the annual girl scout cookie selling campaign every year. We used AI during the entire campaign over the last two years to create visuals for her, and it just reminded the role that AI can have in giving everyone in the planet a voice. My daughter didnt have to pay to get the photos. She didn’t have to compromise her story from having to choose from pre-existing content. She was simply able to have a conversation with AI to get the exact visual that matched what she wanted to use for her campaign.
Shawn Villaron, Vice President and General Manager of Powerpoint
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