June 15, 2024

The adoption of GenAI has major benefits for project management, report claims

A new report [registration] published by the Project Management Institute claims “those who adeptly transform the perceived threat of GenAI into an opportunity for their project teams and organisations will undoubtedly be in demand for their innovative leadership.” According to the report, 91 percent of project managers who use AI in more than 51 percent of their recent projects (Trailblazers) experienced a significant impact on project quality management. Compared to just 40 percent for project managers who use AI in 15 percent or less of their recent projects (Explorers). More →

June 13, 2024

Right now, GenAI mostly produces cheap grey goo for a perpetual present

by Mark Eltringham • AI, Comment, Technology

I keep hearing that Generative AI will unleash human creativity. Based on the contents of my inbox, I can tell you that is not yet the case. It is increasingly full of GenAI generated press releases and comment pieces that consist of a small amount of gibberish, a larger quantity of stuff that reads likes it’s been written by a non-native speaker, and an even larger amount of bland, clichéd C0nTeNt. More →

June 13, 2024

A new generation of workplace apps is transforming people’s experience of work

by Helen Parton • Facilities management, Features, Technology, Workplace design

Disseminating information about a building to the people who occupy it has come a long way from a basic, intranet desktop interface with warnings about wet floors or notices about charity fundraising. These days, workplace apps promise a much more sophisticated experience, which can be accessed in the palm of your hand. Gartner has a useful definition of workplace apps’ capabilities, stating, “They are used to explore and reserve workspaces, navigate the workplace, find colleagues, plan the best days to attend the workplace, access services and ensure that employees could feel safe in a future post pandemic workplace.” More →

June 5, 2024

GenAI is already driving down demand for freelancers

by Neil Franklin • News

The demand for freelancers working in writing, and coding related jobs has dropped by 21 percent since the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, according to new research by Imperial College Business School, Harvard Business School and the German Institute for Economic Research. This research paper, Who is AI Replacing? The Impact of Generative AI on Online Freelancing Platforms, looks at the impact of GenAI technologies on the demand for creative professionals who work on an hourly basis for different clients. More →

May 23, 2024

Generative AI could help UK workers save 19 million hours a week by 2026

by Neil Franklin • AI, News, Technology

New research from Pearson claims to show the potential of Generative AI to boost workplace productivity by helping UK workers to save ’19 million hours a week’ on routine and repetitive tasks. More →

May 17, 2024

Third of businesses investing in GenAI, but employees increasingly concerned about redundancy

by Neil Franklin • AI, News, Technology, Workplace

Over a third of UK employers are bullish about AI investment despite serious workforce uncertainty. New research shows that 35.3 percent of employers are actively investing in GenAI while 40.4 percent plan to increase their use of the technology, to support the workplace, according to a new poll from SD Worx. The findings suggest there is a surprisingly buoyant business outlook for AI adoption at a time when the UK government begins to craft new legislation to regulate AI. The move on regulation comes as the competition watchdog expresses increased concerns about the industry. However, despite businesses betting big on AI investment, similar enthusiasm isn’t shared by employees, with 30 percent of UK workers fearing their roles will be made redundant as a result of GenAi. More →

May 15, 2024

Mastering GenAI: how to bridge skills gaps and boost employee confidence

by Bill O'Shea • Comment, Workplace

Six in ten employees will require training before 2027 according to the World Economic Forum, which estimates that the talent shortage will exceed 85 million people by 2030. The introduction of GenAI in the workplace means this skills gap is set to expand. In Udemy’s recent Global Learning & Skills Trends Report, we found that there are three key learning and skills trends for 2024. Firstly, we are seeing that companies are increasingly looking to hire based on skills rather than formal qualifications like degrees, as these hires more closely align with long-term strategic goals and are better equipped to upskill existing teams. More →

April 24, 2024

The role of emotional intelligence in effective sales leadership

by Freddie Steele • Company news

The sales industry has long esteemed the virtues of sharp negotiation skills and strategic thinking. However, a growing body of research suggests emotional intelligence (EI) is a pivotal force behind sales leadership success. More than just a buzzword, EI encompasses the ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotions in ourselves and others. Leaders adept in emotional intelligence are often seen forging stronger relationships and achieving greater outcomes. Below, we explore how EI can enhance sales leadership and why it’s critical for those looking to excel in this dynamic field. More →

April 16, 2024

Older people less keen on early retirement than younger generations

by Neil Franklin • News, Workplace

Early retirement is a specific life goal for 65 percent of working-age adults around the world, with 70 percent of Gen Z employees (the highest proportion of any generation) actively working towards this aspirational goal. This compares to just 51 percent of the over 55s. The findings appear in a new study, commissioned by nudge Global, into the financial wellbeing of 11,577 working-age adults from 17 countries around the world. More →

March 25, 2024

UK Space Agency announces new headquarters and regional offices

by Neil Franklin • News, Property

The UK Space Agency is opening new headquarters in Harwell, Oxfordshire and regional offices in Scotland, Wales and the Midlands as it works to support the space sector across the UK. According to the government, the expansion will enable the Agency to collaborate more closely with the UK’s space sector, while promoting regional skills and job opportunities to deliver ‘increasingly ambitious missions and capabilities’. As set out in the Space Industrial Plan, the government says it is committed to continuing its support for space clusters across the UK and ‘providing the tools needed to drive collaboration between them and catalyse further investment’. More →

March 6, 2024

People have lost trust in AI already, and aren’t keen on innovation more generally

by Jayne Smith • AI, News, Technology

The 2024 edition of the Edelman Trust Barometer claims to expose a rift on the subjects of AI and innovation that has become a new factor in the polarisation of societies. Respondents, by nearly a two-to-one margin, feel innovation is being poorly managed; this is true across age groups, income levels, and gender, and in both developed and developing countries people are more likely to say innovation is poorly managed than well managed. Innovations have also become politicized, especially in Western democracies where right leaning individuals are far more likely than those on the left to reject them; the biggest differences between those on the right and left are in the U.S. (41 points), Australia (23 points), Germany (20 points), and Canada (18 points). More →

March 1, 2024

ICO tells employers they can share staff data in a mental health emergency

by Neil Franklin • News, Wellbeing

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has published new guidance which it says gives employers more certainty about sharing their workers’ personal details in a mental health emergency. The guidance provides advice on when and how it is appropriate to share workers’ information when the employer believes that someone is at risk of causing serious harm to themselves, or others, because of their mental health.