By Brian Cann, regional director for Eastern Canada at Microsoft

Artificial intelligence (AI) was not born yesterday. Spell checkers, PowerPoint, email, search engines, and antivirus software have been integrating AI and machine learning to simplify everyday tasks for years.

In fact, AI is so ubiquitous that most of us don’t realize we’re benefiting from it. Today, our relationship to AI is changing. Next-generation AI tools allow us to interact with them differently and make them more accessible through the use of natural language. This year Microsoft started Microsoft 365 Copilot, which combines the power of big language models with data in Microsoft Graph and Microsoft 365 — the suite of productivity apps almost everyone has been using in some form for decades (like Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams). – to make natural language the most powerful productivity tool in the world.

An early access program was launched in May, making Microsoft 365 Copilot available to 600 Microsoft customers worldwide.

Next-gen AI technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we work, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Microsoft Work Trends Index 2023 data, “Will AI transform the world of work?” tells us that the pace of work has accelerated faster than humans can keep up, and this is impacting innovation.

Microsoft surveyed 31,000 employees and executives in 31 countries and analyzed billions of productivity signals from Microsoft 365 and workforce trends from LinkedIn’s Economic Chart.

The ever-growing flow of data, information and constant communication makes it difficult for people to keep up, while companies are under pressure to increase productivity in an uncertain economic climate. Digital debt, as well as the overwhelming amount of data and tasks that humans struggle to process, are hampering our ability to focus on creative work and innovation, impacting the productivity of individuals and organizations, and the global economy.

how did we get here The time spent in meetings, emails, and other forms of communication has steadily increased over the years, leaving employees less and less time to focus on meaningful work. The heavy reliance on email and meetings has become a major impediment to productivity, with inefficient meetings seen as the primary cause.

According to the Labor Trends Index:

• 54% of Canadian respondents admit they struggle with having the time and energy to do their job effectively, and these people are four times more likely to say they struggle to innovate and think creatively . strategically.

• Globally, 62% of survey respondents say they struggle with spending too much time searching for information at work.

• 66% of Canadians say they don’t focus enough during their workday.

• Across Microsoft 365 Apps, the average worker spends 57% of their time communicating (in meetings, email, and chat) and 43% creating documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.

• 55% of Canadian executives are concerned about the lack of innovation in their teams.

Generative AI offers solutions for things that take time, block schedules and drain our valuable brain power. Using AI-powered tools, meetings can become more efficient and productive, allowing employees to communicate when and how is best for them. AI can also help employees regain their focus time by automating repetitive tasks and streamlining information search processes.

But if AI has become so powerful, so useful, and so powerful, what does that mean for our job security? Will AI replace us? Contrary to some inflammatory headlines, employees are more optimistic than concerned about AI in the workplace. The majority of Canadians say they are willing to delegate everything from administrative and analytical tasks to creative tasks, including artificial intelligence to make their job easier. Employees believe that artificial intelligence can increase their creativity by helping them generate ideas and transform their work.

Business leaders are also recognizing the potential of artificial intelligence to empower rather than replace employees. Business leaders want to use artificial intelligence to eliminate low-value activities, improve employee skills and increase productivity.

According to the Labor Trends Index:

• Managers are twice as likely (1.5 in Canada) to say that AI would help the workplace by increasing productivity rather than reducing the workforce.

• In Canada, 71% of people would like to use artificial intelligence not only for administrative tasks but also for analytical work (74%) and even for the creative aspects of their role (64%).

Collaborating with AI will become an integral part of the way we work, just as the internet and computers have become indispensable tools of every business. Employees and organizations that want to take full advantage of this new technology must focus their efforts and investments on developing the AI ​​skills of their workforce. The era of AI-driven work has arrived – how will it change the way you work?