How AI is Changing Our Work: Productivity, Empowerment, and Pressures
Introduction: AI’s Dual Impact on Work
Imagine walking into your office one morning to find that your tasks have doubled overnight—but so has your ability to complete them. AI is not just changing the way we work; it is reshaping expectations, productivity standards, and even how we perceive our own professional value.
This article is based on findings from the FFG-funded project ‘AI Empower Lab’ by WOMENTOR, which investigates the real-world impact of AI on different target groups, particularly creatives and knowledge workers. Over 12 months, we conducted a quantitative survey (n=166), qualitative interviews, and focus groups to analyze how AI influences:
✅ Productivity & Efficiency
✅ Job Satisfaction & Creativity
✅ Workplace Pressures & Salaries
We also explored whether AI’s impact varies by gender, revealing insights that have significant implications for the future of work.
AI Adoption in the Workplace: How Common Is It?
📊 Key Stat: 83% of respondents use AI tools at least weekly.
AI is no longer an emerging trend—it’s already deeply integrated into workplaces. However, not all professionals use AI equally:
Highly AI-literate professionals see it as an opportunity to automate tedious tasks and enhance expertise.
Less AI-literate users experience it as a challenge, sometimes feeling overwhelmed or pressured to "keep up."
A report from The Financial Times (FT.com) supports this finding, emphasizing that understanding AI is now a career advantage rather than just a technical skill.
How AI Affects Productivity: A Boost, But at What Cost?
One of AI’s key promises is enhanced efficiency. Our study confirms that AI increases work speed and quantity, but there’s a catch:
💡 AI speeds up work—but doesn’t always improve quality or creativity.
Speed & Quantity: Many professionals report being able to generate more content, faster.
Quality & Creativity: AI-enhanced work often remains average, raising concerns about workplace "good enough" culture.
📢 Direct Quote from an Interviewee:
🗣️ “We’re at risk of normalizing mediocrity—where ‘okay’ is good enough, instead of pushing for great work.”
A study by The New York Times (NYTimes.com) echoes this sentiment, highlighting concerns about AI leading to creative stagnation in industries such as journalism and design.
AI & Workplace Satisfaction: Empowerment vs. Pressure
While AI can reduce manual workload and free up time for meaningful tasks, it also comes with new workplace pressures:
⚠️ Higher expectations to produce more, faster
⚠️ Increased pressure for AI-generated high-quality output
⚠️ Growing difficulty in differentiating human and AI contributions
Despite these concerns, many respondents feel empowered by AI:
✅ Automation of repetitive tasks makes work more enjoyable.
✅ AI literacy enhances professional credibility and career opportunities.
💬 One respondent put it this way:
🗣️ “Since I started working with AI, people take my work more seriously. AI literacy makes you stand out.”
The Economic Impact: AI, Salaries & Job Value
📊 Key Finding: Most respondents reported no change in their salary due to AI. However, 13% now earn more.
Why? AI enhances perceived professional value, especially in creative industries:
💡 AI knowledge transforms professionals into tech-savvy experts.
🗣️ Interview Quote:
"Before AI, I was just another graphic designer. Now, because I understand AI, people recognize my expertise and offer me better opportunities."
This finding aligns with research from The Standard (DerStandard.at), which suggests that AI-literate professionals gain a competitive edge in negotiations and promotions.
Conclusion: AI Literacy is Now Essential for Career Success
🔹 AI is revolutionizing work—but only those who actively engage with it will benefit.
🔹 AI increases productivity but also raises expectations and workplace pressures.
🔹 AI enhances career value, but only if professionals take control of how it’s used.
Stay Critical, Demand Transparency & Strengthen Your AI Literacy
AI is not just a workplace tool—it is a powerful force shaping how we work, communicate, and engage with democracy. To harness its benefits without falling into its pitfalls, professionals must take an active role in understanding, questioning, and shaping AI’s influence.
✅ Stay Critical & Question AI Outputs: AI is only as good as the data it is trained on. Be aware of biases, errors, and limitations in AI-generated work. Don’t accept AI-generated content blindly—evaluate its credibility.
✅ Demand Transparency in Workplaces: If AI is being used in hiring, promotions, performance tracking, or decision-making, demand to know: Who designed it? How does it work? Is there human oversight? Transparency in AI deployment is essential to prevent discrimination and power imbalances.
✅ Don’t Stop Increasing Your AI Literacy: The best way to stay ahead is to keep learning. AI literacy is not just a tech skill—it’s a civic skill. Invest time in understanding AI ethics, bias detection, and responsible AI use to retain control over your expertise and career.
✅ Use AI to Strengthen Democracy & Free Speech: AI is already being used to moderate content, flag misinformation, and influence political discourse. Learn how to fact-check AI-generated content, spot fake news, and understand AI’s role in shaping public opinion. Your right to free speech and a fair digital landscape depends on informed users pushing for ethical AI.
AI is not replacing human expertise—but it is reshaping how expertise is valued. The key to success? Taking control of AI, rather than letting it control you.