A recent survey carried out by Colt Technology Services (Colt) of more than 100 employees in the telecommunications sector in Spain, explores the relationship and interaction that workers have daily with AI and the opportunities that this technology offers. The report presents revealing data, warning of the risks of excluding them in the technological adoption process driven by AI.
Under the title “From fear to trust: how telecommunications companies can adopt AI without leaving people behind”, the study highlights that 59% of employees in Spain are worried that AI could totally or partially replace their position in the future. Among the people who are most concerned about this situation are women who occupy relevant positions in projects related to AI.
The report highlights that only 13% of professionals claim to feel completely secure regarding their job stability, highlighting the importance of following an AI strategy that places people at the center, and insisting that the responsible adoption of AI depends on both training and corporate culture. At the same time, it warns of the risks of excluding employees in the AI-based digital transformation process.
Employees in customer service (75%), administration (71%) and sales (66%) positions are the most concerned about this situation. However, the report highlights that there is high knowledge (65%) about the measures that organizations are taking to mitigate the risk that AI poses to gender inequalities. Additionally, 59% of respondents believe that, with the right approach, companies can make progress on their diversity goals through the ethical use of AI.
Frank Miller, Chief AI and Platforms Officer at Colt, said: “As our study demonstrates, AI offers employees incredible opportunities to expand their knowledge, streamline daily tasks and focus on what really matters. This, in turn, drives better business results and greater confidence in the everyday use of AI.”
Integrate AI with business success
Companies are providing tools to equip workers with AI skills. Among the most popular options are training in AI to facilitate its integration (26%), modifying job specifications to include AI (25%) and retraining programs in the current position (23.21%). These efforts show how AI is transforming talent management and productivity.
With the right approach, companies can make progress on their diversity goals through the ethical use of AI
The tools most offered by companies to integrate AI are group workshops (53%) and mandatory training (53%), followed by voluntary courses (33%). In addition to this positive vision, respondents have incorporated different uses of AI into their tasks: on a daily basis, 34% of them search for information with artificial intelligence, while 12% use AI integrated into work software and 11% use generative AI to automate processes.
“People and Culture” and “Responsible AI” are two of the fundamental pillars on which Colt builds its AI strategy. Keys include focusing on the following aspects:
- AI Literacy: Ensure that people working with AI systems have sufficient levels of knowledge, training and support for operational activities.
- Culture and community: promote a culture of open and growth mindset, with a critical approach when using AI results, and build inclusive spaces for everyone to participate in the opportunities and risks of AI.
- Social sustainability: manage the risks for individuals and social groups derived from the deployment of AI, prioritizing principles of equity, transparency and responsibility.
- Environmental sustainability: understand the real life cycle impacts of AI and prioritize efficient design decisions in hardware and software.
- AI for good: promote and prioritize AI use cases that generate positive net benefits for people and the planet, showing that AI, well managed, can be an engine of social progress.
