In a recent Deloitte survey, it was found that only 8% of U.S. private company leaders believe that A.I. is currently increasing their organization's productivity. The survey also revealed that smaller companies, with annual revenues under $500 million, are even less likely to prioritize investments in advanced technology like A.I., with only 16% planning to do so, compared to 44% of companies with higher revenues.
### Emphasis on Skilled Talent
Interestingly, smaller companies are focusing on using their talent more effectively. Their top priority for driving increased results is to reskill and upskill existing employees. Similarly, larger companies, although more interested in prioritizing A.I., still consider hiring qualified or skilled talent as their main productivity strategy.
### Growing Focus on Skilled Talent
The focus on skilled talent is on the rise, with the percentage of jobs requiring a college degree decreasing from 51% in 2017 to 44% in 2022. Additionally, employers anticipate approximately 44% of workers' skills to be disrupted in the next five years, emphasizing the increasing importance of hiring for skills and training existing team members on new skills.
### Future Potential of A.I. for Productivity
Although A.I. adoption for productivity enhancement is currently low, 87% of survey respondents anticipate A.I.-driven productivity improvements within the next three years. Therefore, while skilled talent remains the current priority for company leaders, they recognize the potential of A.I. as a powerful booster in the future.