Together with the Handelsblatt Research Institute (HRI), Valantic surveyed more than 1,000 managers from the DACH region on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on companies and work processes. The results of the study "Digital Excellence Outlook - AI at Scale" show that AI will drive the automation of routine tasks and redefine the role of human employees and managers.

According to the "Digital Excellence Outlook", the majority of the C-levels surveyed expect profound changes in the world of work as a result of AI. © Valantic

79% of respondents expect that companies that do not consistently integrate AI will be at a competitive disadvantage by 2030. AI can increase productivity, efficiency and performance, provided it is used in a targeted manner in line with corporate goals.

Human skills are crucial

The study underlines that human skills such as creativity, empathy and ethical judgment will be crucial for innovation and corporate success in the future. 80% of respondents rate these skills as particularly valuable as analytical and operational tasks are increasingly automated.

The role of managers will also change: 82% of respondents assume that AI will have a significant influence on decisions in companies by 2030. Managers will increasingly act as reviewers for AI systems instead of performing traditional decision-making functions.

Dependency risk

At the same time, 67% of respondents see risks in the strong dependence on AI. There is a danger that key human skills such as problem-solving, innovation and entrepreneurial thinking will be lost. To counteract this, 75% expect companies to introduce programs to promote cognitive performance and mental health.

In addition, four out of five respondents believe that companies need new leadership roles such as Chief AI Officers or Agent Workforce Leads to manage the economic and ethical use of AI.

© Valantic

Laurenz Kirchner, Managing Director and Head of the Data & AI Practice at Valantic, explains: "The real challenge is to combine technological progress with the targeted promotion of human skills such as creativity, empathy and ethical thinking. Only companies that take responsibility for the impact of AI seriously will be successful in the long term."

The study shows that companies must act strategically to maintain the balance between technological automation and human expertise and prepare for the ethical and economic challenges of the AI age.