India tops global AI usage with 92% users, but job fears loom large

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India leads in AI adoption with the highest number of workers using AI regularly; however, it also has a large number of workers who feel their jobs will be taken over by AI. The apprehension of AI taking over jobs seems to be rampant. A new report by BCG, the global management consulting firm, suggests that leaders and managers are more likely to worry about losing their job in the next 10 years.

This fear is ubiquitous in regions with the highest use of AI, which include India, Spain, and the Middle East. India has a whopping 92 per cent of regular AI users, and as many as 48 per cent of workers here feel the sting of potential job loss.

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The survey was conducted on 10,000 employees across 11 countries, and as many as 41 per cent of the respondents admitted that they fear losing their job. The Middle East, in which 87 per cent of workers use AI, has over 63 per cent of them concerned about job displacement. Similarly, Spain, with 78 per cent regular users, has 61 per cent fearing job loss.

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The report also states that adoption among frontline workers is plateauing. As many as 72 per cent of respondents are regular AI users, while adoption among frontline workers has stagnated at 51 per cent. While frontline managers are key to decision-making, the ongoing AI wave seems to be pushing them into an abyss of existential crisis.

According to the report, proper training, leadership support, and access to the right tools can bridge the gap. However, only 36 per cent of employees are content with their AI training. When it comes to higher adoption, the report states that the global south is witnessing monumental adoption, and India is leading. The report underscores that even though AI may be gaining traction in the workplace, critical gaps persist when it comes to adoption, workforce readiness, and training of workers.

Even though the concerns around job displacement are widespread, the report also highlights the optimism among workers about AI. As many as 52 per cent of the respondents admitted to feeling optimistic about the role of AI in their work. Overall the adoption is strong, with 72 per cent of respondents reported to be regular AI users.