Should AI use be mandatory in the workplace?

Since generative AI exploded onto the scene more than three years ago, questions have been popping up.

Is it risky to use? Is it accurate? Is it biased? Is it confidential? Will it replace me?

As the tool progressed, so did the questions: Does it help or hinder employee engagement? Does it boost productivity? Does it diminish creativity?

Some of the questions have been answered, but many are still unclear — largely because context matters. The type of job, company or sector involved can all make a difference.

But now that more companies have experimented with, if not embraced, the “new” tech (is three years old still new?), most employees have at least some familiarity or expertise with genAI.

And I truly believe this is yet another tool for the workplace, just like an electronic typewriter, the desktop computer or the internet. It’s not meant to replace workers.

Which is why it’s probably not surprising that mandates around the use of AI on the job seem to be on the rise: “Use it or lose it” ie. your job. Well, maybe not quite that extreme, but pretty close.

Many employers, afraid of being left behind, have jumped onboard, tentatively or fully. And in doing so, they’ve encouraged their workforces to embrace the new tool.

The problem? People are scared. Scared for their jobs or scared to admit they don’t know how to use the new tech or how it can help them.

Accenture promotes AI

And while heavy encouragement from management can be effective, it’s interesting to see companies like Accenture taking a more proactive tactic.

Senior managers and associate directors at the company have been told that regular adoption of AI will be required of them if they want to be promoted to leadership roles, according to media reports.

The company has started tracking employees' use of AI tools, such as collecting data on weekly log-ins by senior staff members.

It’s not surprising for a company like Accenture, which has been prolific in using the new tech. In December, it announced a partnership with OpenAI to equip tens of thousands of its professionals with ChatGPT Enterprise. It also launched a multi-year partnership with Anthropic to train roughly 30,000 professionals on Claude AI tools. 

And last year, Accenture said it trained over 550,000 employees in generative AI, and was rolling out agentic AI training to all of its 779,000.

So, it’s not exactly mandatory, but definitely encouraged if you want to be promoted at the company.

Canadians split on mandated AI use

Maybe not surprisingly, Canadians are split on the issue. A recent survey by KPMG found half (49 per cent) of Canadian employees believe using artificial intelligence should be required in the workplace.

For those in favour, it could be because usage rates are going up: half (51 per cent) of Canadian employees use generative AI at work, compared with 46 per cent in 2024 and 22 per cent in 2023. 

Among users, 79 per cent say generative AI has improved their productivity, while 51 per cent are redeploying the time they save to higher‑value work, up from 45 per cent a year earlier, finds KPMG.

The tools are used mainly for: 

• research (62 per cent)
• idea generation (58 per cent)
• summarizing publicly available information (37 per cent)

That’s certainly encouraging, that people are seeing the benefits of AI, in real ways.

The problem with AI mandates?

The problem? Although 83 per cent of the Canadian respondents say they “want and/or need to learn how to use generative AI tools more effectively,” only 48 per cent describe their employer’s training as helpful.

In addition, one-third (36 per cent) of workers received AI training but have not started using the tools because they are too busy or overwhelmed to change existing processes, and another 37 per cent began using AI after training but later stopped for the same reason.

Trying to figure out generative AI is a big deal. We’ve certainly embraced the new tech at Key Media, with impressive results — but it’s been a big learning curve in figuring out the nuances and finer details, and the learning continues.

And we’ve been given training, from the start, with updated sessions to share key learnings and insights.

But many people haven’t been so lucky. I have a friend at one of Canada’s big telecoms who’s been instructed to use AI, quite firmly — but given no guidance on how, when or why.

Three years in, employers and HR should be training people on generative AI if they expect them to use it — and why not? They can’t expect people to spend extra time figuring out a complicated tool that can be used innumerable ways.

They must know people are intimidated, fearful, uncertain — and a lack of training could mean costly mistakes for the company and an inefficient use of time by employees.

So, should AI be mandated? Yes, but only if it makes sense for the role and only if training is provided. Otherwise, it’s a lose-lose, for both sides.