The latest the findings from Airswift's ninth annual Global Energy Talent Index (GETI) survey show a significant shift in opinion of the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the employment market in the energy industry. Contrary to popular belief, more than 90% of questioned experts believe AI will increase the necessity for human skills ranging from technical proficiency to creativity and problem-solving ability. Furthermore, nearly half of respondents (46%) believe that AI deployments will lead to higher earnings.
The survey, which includes insights from 12,000 professionals in 149 countries, highlights the numerous perceived benefits of AI integration in the workplace. The predicted increase in productivity is the most important of these benefits, according to 74% of respondents. Furthermore, 60% feel that AI will improve their career prospects and job satisfaction.Notably, more than half of the participants (54%) are optimistic about improved work-life balance, noting AI's ability to streamline activities and free up more leisure time.
AI concerns and hurdles
Despite the general optimism, professionals raise concerns about AI's impacts in the workplace. The perceived lack of human touch associated with AI is the most common fear, according to 42% of respondents. Moreover, 33% of respondents expressed concerns about potential misuse or inadequate adoption due to insufficient training. Cybersecurity issues are also a source of conflict, with 30% expressing concern about potential vulnerabilities.
Furthermore, the survey indicates a significant gap in AI policies among workplaces. Half of the respondents say their organisations do not have AI policies, while 17% are unsure whether such regulations exist. Only 52% of respondents who acknowledge the presence of AI policy confirm coverage of critical areas such as data protection and security.
Professionals report various challenges to widespread AI adoption, such as ambiguity about appropriate AI tools and a perceived lack of investment. Despite these limitations, the overall sentiment remains positive, with 82% of respondents believing AI has the ability to improve the energy sector.
While 82% of energy professionals are optimistic about AI's potential, substantial impediments prevent widespread deployment. Among these challenges are concerns about which AI technologies to utilise and a perceived lack of investment in AI initiatives. These constraints lead to a slower rate of AI integration in the energy sector, with only 24% of oil and gas personnel now using AI technologies in their jobs.
Sector-specific data
The survey analyses sector-specific perceptions of AI integration. Notably, professionals in the nuclear energy sector have a particularly positive perspective, with 69% expecting AI to drive productivity gains in the next two years. In contrast, individuals in the oil and gas sector report the lowest levels of AI integration, with only 24% incorporating AI technologies into their employment.
The GETI report provides insight into how AI use is changing in the energy sector and highlights professionals' varied points of view. Though there is a lot of hope for AI's potential advantages, worries about how it may impact cybersecurity, legal frameworks, and the nature of jobs persist. In order to fully utilise the technology's potential to encourage innovation and long-term growth, the industry will need to take proactive steps to plug talent gaps, improve cybersecurity processes, and promote a culture of responsible AI adoption.