For the study "Turning AI into concrete value: the successful implementers' toolkit", the consulting firm Capgemini surveyed 993 companies with a turnover of over 500 million US dollars. All participating organizations use artificial intelligence (AI) either as part of a pilot project or on a larger scale.

The study contradicts fears that artificial intelligence will lead to massive job losses in the short term: Four out of five companies (83%) have created new jobs through AI technologies. These are primarily jobs for experienced staff, with two out of three positions being created in the management environment. In addition, more than 63% of companies implementing AI on a large scale stated that AI would not lead to job cuts. One example: "We want to deploy employees according to their skills," says Michael Natusch, Global Head AI at Prudential. "AI saves the time that people previously spent on repetitive tasks and allows them to focus on tasks where human intelligence adds value." Accordingly, the majority of organizations surveyed (71%) are actively retraining and upskilling their employees. Among respondents who use AI on a large scale, the vast majority believe that AI will simplify complex work (89%) and that intelligent machines and humans will exist side by side in their companies (88%). The study also highlights the growth opportunities offered by AI: three quarters of companies increased their sales by 10%, which they attribute directly to the introduction of AI.

Thinking too complex

Nevertheless, many companies still need to align their AI investments with their business opportunities - according to the study. Led by technologists, many companies are prioritizing ambitious AI projects and overlooking obvious benefits. More than half (58%) are focusing on very complex projects with high benefits, such as customer service or autonomous driving. In contrast, only 46% implement so-called "must-do AI applications" with high potential benefits and low complexity. Examples include error detection and performance management, compliance with legal requirements or the use of chatbots and virtual assistants. Companies can also use AI solutions to autonomously classify emails in customer service, for example, thus freeing up time for more value-adding activities. If companies were to tackle both at the same time, they would enjoy significantly greater business benefits. For example, companies that implement many must-do use cases reduce their waste by up to 26% on average.

Germany and AI

If you ask the German study participants about the greatest benefit they derive from the use of AI, higher productivity is mentioned in first place. This is followed by a 10% increase in the sale of new products and services and higher customer satisfaction. Organizations in this country are also improving their operational business processes through AI.