The 2023 edX AI Survey

NAVIGATING THE
WORKPLACE IN
THE AGE OF AI
How a strong focus on AI skills will help
the C-Suite future-proof their business,
their workforce, and their own careers

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Beyond the Hype

3

Key Findings

4

AI Is Rapidly Reshaping the World of Work5

Every Level of the Organization Will Be Affected by AI

6

How AI Will Redefine the Role of the Executive 7

Could AI Spell the End of Entry-Level Knowledge Work? 

9AI Skills Can Offer a Significant Career Advantage 10
Executives and Employees Are Moving Quickly to Adapt,but Workplace Learning Programs Aren’t Keeping Up12

Is Your Workforce Ready for the Age of AI?14

Methodology

14

About edX

14

About Workplace Intelligence14

edX | Workplace Intelligence

BEYOND THE HYPE
Across all industries, the development of newtechnologies is rapidly transforming the worldof work and driving the need for employees
to learn new skills. One skillset that’s quickly
becoming essential is the ability to use Artificial
Intelligence, or AI.
In the workplace, AI skills can include technical skills(e.g., skills required to program/engineer AI products)
as well as non-technical skills (e.g., skills required to use
generative AI tools). By one estimate, the number of job
postings related to generative AI alone has increased
more than 450% from a year ago.1
To better understand how AI will impact the worldof work, edX partnered with Workplace Intelligenceto survey 800 non-executive knowledge workers —comprising individual contributors and managers — and800 C-Suite executives, including over 500 CEOs. This
report describes the survey’s key findings, including
how quickly AI is being adopted, why learning AI
skills will be critical for employees at every level ofthe organization, and how executives and workers are
adapting to the rapid rise of AI.

The C-Suite executives surveyed estimate that nearly
half (49%) of the skills that exist in their workforce
today won’t be relevant in 2025, and they feel 47% of
their workforce is unprepared for the future of work.
Not surprisingly, most executives report that they’re
struggling to find talent with AI skills.
As AI continues to reshape tomorrow’s workplace, it’s
up to leaders to ensure their business has the rightskills to stay competitive. But with so much competition
for talent, executives will need to look internally andfocus on upskilling their current workforce.
Fortunately, the survey revealed that employees are
enthusiastic about learning AI skills — but many aren’t
getting the support they need from their employers. As
the C-Suite navigates the age of AI, they must prioritize
supporting every level of the organization with an
outcomes-based learning & development program.
Those that don’t will struggle to succeed in tomorrow’s
AI-driven workplace.

Computerworld. (July 19, 2023). AI-skills job postings jump
450%; here’s what companies want. Retrieved from https://www.computerworld.com/article/3702711/ai-skills-jobpostings-jump-450-heres-what-companies-want.html

1

EXECUTIVES BELIEVENEARLY HALF OF THE SKILLSTHAT EXIST IN TODAY’S
WORKFORCE WON’T BE
RELEVANT IN 2025

edX | Workplace Intelligence3

KEY FINDINGS
According to survey respondents:
There’s widespread agreement about the importance of AI,
but companies are finding it difficult to adapt.

87%of the C-Suite say they’re
struggling to find talent with AI
skills, and 77% say AI is disrupting
their business strategy.

Executives believe most functions at their organization will
be replaced by AI — including the CEO role.

47%of C-Suite executives believe“most” or “all” of the CEO roleshould be completely automatedor replaced by AI — and 49% ofCEOs agree.

However, employees don’t realize how much they’ll
be affected.

20%

of knowledge workers think“most” or “all” of their role could
be replaced by AI.

Entry-level knowledge workers are particularly at risk ofbeing replaced by AI.

56%
edX | Workplace Intelligenceof entry-level roles will beeliminated, as estimated by
C-Suite executives.

While executives are embracing learning AI skills, many areconcerned about falling behind.

79%of C-Suite executives fear that
if they don’t learn how to use
AI, they’ll be unprepared for the
future of work.

Executives believe AI proficiency will provide a significant
career advantage.

82%of the C-Suite believe workers
who are skilled at using AI shouldbe paid more, and 74% feel theyshould be promoted more often.

Contrary to what you’d expect, the C-Suite doesn’t care if
employees use AI to work for another company.

82%of executives say employees
should be allowed to use AI towork multiple jobs.

Employees are eager to learn AI skills, but workplacelearning programs aren’t keeping up.

24%

of employees are using theircompany’s programs tolearn AI skills, and 39% say
it’s likely they’ll quit for a jobthat offers better learning &development opportunities.

4

AI IS RAPIDLY RESHAPING
THE WORLD OF WORK
It’s perhaps not surprising that 77% of the C-Suite
believe AI skills will increase in importance overthe next 1–2 years, and nearly 8 out of 10 say theircompany is already using AI. While 41% of executives
are only permitting AI use with close oversight andsome precautions, 38% say they’re moving as quickly
as possible to integrate AI into their business strategy.

For example, workers anticipate that they’ll spend moretime on meaningful tasks, reviewing AI outputs, andcollaborating with colleagues, and less time helping
customers/clients. Employees also believe the scopeof their job will expand, they’ll be held to a higher
performance standard, and they’ll be tasked withmore work.

In fact, executives estimate that within the next year,
60% of their workforce will require some level ofproficiency with developing AI or using AI-powered
tools. However, most are finding it difficult to getahead of this trend — 87% say they’re struggling tofind talent with AI skills and 77% say AI is disrupting
their business strategy.

Companies — specifically managers — are clearly
already attuned to some of the benefits of AI. Nearly
3 out of 10 workers report that their manager either
encourages or expects them to use AI. And surprisingly,
employees are far less anxious about these changes
than one might think, with only around a third saying
they feel overwhelmed (33%) or threatened (31%) by AI.

Fortunately, employees may already be one stepahead: 59% are currently using AI at work, and 77%
and 85% believe they’ll be using AI within the next
1 and 5 years, respectively. It follows that 72% of
employees agree it will be important for them toimprove their AI skills within the next 1–2 years, and
58% say their job will be redefined by AI in at least
one way.

However, there’s still some uncertainty about thebroader impacts of AI, including the effect it could haveon employees’ job security. Only around half of workers(52%) agree that AI will have an overall positive impact
on the workplace, and 1 out of 4 say they would notwant AI to support or augment their role, even if their
pay remained the same.

77%
EMPLOYEES BELIEVE
THEIR USE OF AI WILLGROW SIGNIFICANTLYOVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS59%
CURRENTLY

edX | Workplace Intelligence

85%

NEXT
YEAR

NEXT 5YEARS

5EVERY LEVEL OF
THE ORGANIZATIONWILL BE AFFECTEDBY AI
Executives say AI is set to replace or augment many
functions at their organization within the next 5
years. While executives believe the C-Suite is least
likely to be affected, it’s still remarkable that 56%
anticipate their company’s executive-level roles will
be completely or partially replaced by AI.
Employees, on the other hand, are much lesslikely to feel that AI will replace these functions— including their own roles. And although 76%
of workers agree that at least a little of theirrole could be supported by AI, just 20% think“most” or “all” of their role could be completely
automated or replaced by AI.
This indicates that employees may notrecognize how drastically AI will affect theworkplace in the years to come, while
the C-Suite believes AI’s impact will besignificant and far-reaching. For workers, itwill be important to come to terms with the
new reality reshaping the workplace andtheir own career trajectories.

THERE’S A DISCONNECT
BETWEEN PERCEPTIONS
OF THE C-SUITEAND EMPLOYEES:OF THE C-SUITE BELIEVE EXECUTIVELEADERSHIP OR C-SUITE ROLESAT THEIR ORGANIZATION WILL BE“COMPLETELY” OR “PARTIALLY”
REPLACED BY AI

VS.
OF EMPLOYEES THINK “MOST”
OR “ALL” OF THEIR ROLE COULD
BE COMPLETELY AUTOMATED
OR REPLACED BY AI

edX | Workplace Intelligence

6

49%

OF CEOS THINK“MOST” OR “ALL” OF
THEIR ROLE SHOULD
BE COMPLETELYAUTOMATED BY AI

HOW AI WILLREDEFINE THE
ROLE OF THE
EXECUTIVE
Nearly 9 out of 10 C-Suite executives say at least “alittle” of their job could be automated by AI, and 83%
believe their job will be redefined by AI over the next
year. Surprisingly, 49% of executives believe “most” or“all” of their job could be completely replaced by AI.
Even the top ranks of leadership will be affected: 47%of the C-Suite say that “most” or “all” of the CEO roleshould be replaced by AI. Specifically for CEOs, among
the over 500 surveyed, nearly half (49%) believe “most”
or “all” of their role should be completely automated or
replaced by AI.

edX | Workplace Intelligence

9/10

EXECUTIVES SAY AT
LEAST “A LITTLE” OF
THEIR JOB COULD BE
AUTOMATED BY AI

7

What executives undoubtedly recognize is that AI canboost their effectiveness and free up their time for more
important business activities. Beyond handling simple
tasks like preparing executive communications, AI
could also come up with ideas for new markets,
products, or business models. These technologies
could also assist with planning and forecasting, andthey could support data-driven decision-making.
In fact, 92% of the C-Suite feel it’s important to improvetheir AI skills within the next 1–2 years, and the same
percentage are already using AI for their role. But whilemost executives feel optimistic about how AI will impact
them, some feel overwhelmed by the pace of change.

EXECUTIVES ARE EMBRACING AI,
BUT MANY FEEL PRESSURED TO MOVE QUICKLY

91%

81%

WOULD LIKE AI
TO SUPPORT THEM

FEEL THEY HAVE NO CHOICE
BUT TO LEARN HOW TO USE AI

81%

79%

ARE EXCITED TO LEARN AI SKILLSAND APPLY THEM TO THEIR JOBFEAR THAT IF THEY DON’T LEARN AI
SKILLS, THEY’LL BE UNPREPAREDFOR THE FUTURE OF WORK

75%

57%

HOPE MANY ASPECTS OF THEIRJOB COULD BE AUGMENTED BY AI

ARE OVERWHELMED ABOUT HAVINGTO INTEGRATE AI WITHIN THEIR ROLE

65%

51%

WOULD LIKE AI TO TAKE OVER
SOME OF THEIR JOB TASKS, EVENIF IT MEANT LOWER PAY
edX | Workplace Intelligence

FEEL THREATENED BY AI

8COULD AI SPELL THE END OFENTRY-LEVEL KNOWLEDGE WORK?
In addition to exploring the C-Suite’s perceptions
around AI, the survey also examined how AI will impact
entry-level knowledge workers. These roles have thepotential to be affected considerably more than otherjob types, since many entry-level tasks can easily behandled by AI tools.
Over 8 out of 10 executives believe the nature of thesejobs will completely shift. Within their own organizations,
86% say AI will affect entry-level knowledge worker
roles in at least one way. Not only will the C-Suite expect
these workers to use AI (48%), but executives say there
will be higher performance expectations (52%) and the
pay and competition for these roles will increase (41%).
Perhaps most notably, executives estimate that within
the next 5 years, their organization will eliminate
over half (56%) of entry-level knowledge worker roles
because of AI. What’s more, 79% of the C-Suite predictthat entry-level knowledge worker jobs will no longer
exist as AI creates an entirely new suite of roles for
employees entering the workforce.
Executives also expressed concerns that because of
their over-reliance on AI, these workers won’t develop
key skills for their profession (85%) or they may
struggle to advance their careers (77%). Their advice for
employees is to be proactive about learning AI skills aswell as other key skills for their role.
For example, 60% of the C-Suite believe entry-levelknowledge workers will need to master the use of AI,
especially prompt engineering. However, 66% feelmanagers should ensure these team members knowwhat skills to develop beyond AI to advance theircareers. Executives also feel these workers should
focus on getting the hands-on experience they need to
become experts in their profession.
edX | Workplace Intelligence

HOW ENTRY-LEVELKNOWLEDGE WORKERSSHOULD ADAPT:

Learn how to use AI,
especially prompt engineering

Develop other skills that will help
advance your career, including
communication and interpersonal skills,
leadership skills, and technology skills

Get hands-on experiencein your profession

9

AI SKILLS CAN OFFER ASIGNIFICANT CAREER ADVANTAGEEXECUTIVES SAYEMPLOYEES WITH AI
SKILLS SHOULD BE
GIVEN PREFERENTIAL
TREATMENT83%

OF EXECUTIVES SAY EMPLOYEESWHO KNOW HOW TO USE AI
SHOULD BE PAID MORE

74%

FEEL THAT EMPLOYEES WHO KNOWHOW TO USE AI SHOULD BE
PROMOTED MORE OFTENPart of the reason for these perceptions could be
because most executives (87%) believe employees
who know how to use AI should be held to a higher
performance standard (e.g., they should be expected
to create better quality work or a greater numberof outputs). In fact, 88% of the C-Suite say they’readjusting their company’s performance expectations

edX | Workplace Intelligence

82% of the C-Suite say if employees get their work
done, it shouldn’t matter if they use AI to do their job.
Executives also acknowledge that doing so could give
workers a significant boost in their careers, with 92%
agreeing that employees who know how to use AI
have an advantage at work. What’s more, 83% of the
C-Suite believe workers who are skilled at using AI
should be paid more, and 74% feel they should bepromoted more often.

due to the potential productivity gains AI can offer.
Executives also admit that knowing how to use AI
will help them achieve their own career goals. For
example, 73% think executives who know how to use
AI are more likely to be promoted to CEO, and 85%
believe the next CEO at their company will have AI
experience/knowledge.

10In addition, the survey revealed that some employees — particularly
Gen Z — are secretly using AI to get ahead or generate additional income,or they’d consider using AI in these ways:
62%

GEN Z

50%

ALL EMPLOYEES

55%

62%

GEN Z

GEN Z

62%

GEN Z

62%
29%

GEN Z
ALL EMPLOYEES

55%
50%

GEN Z
ALL EMPLOYEES50%

ALL EMPLOYEES

29%

ALL EMPLOYEES

61%

GEN Z

55%

GEN Z

55%

GEN Z

61%

GEN Z

29%

ALL EMPLOYEES

46%

ALL EMPLOYEES

57%

GEN Z

61%

GEN Z

61%
45%

GEN Z
ALL EMPLOYEES

57%
46%

GEN Z
ALL EMPLOYEES

46%

ALL EMPLOYEES45%

ALL EMPLOYEES

57%

GEN Z

45%

ALL EMPLOYEESSECRETLY LEARNING AI SKILLSTO GET AN ADVANTAGE OVER
THEIR COLLEAGUESEMPLOYEESUSINGAI TO DO PART-TIME ALL
WORK
46%
FOR ANOTHER COMPANY

57%

GEN Z

45%

ALL EMPLOYEESSECRETLY USING AI TO COMPLETESOMEAND
EMPLOYEES
50% OF THEIR JOB TASKS ALL
CLAIMING THIS WORK AS THEIR OWN

ALL EMPLOYEES
29%
USING
AI TO WORK MULTIPLE
FULL-TIME JOBS

Surprisingly, most C-Suite respondents say they don’t
mind if their team members use AI to do work for
another company. A remarkable 80% of executives
feel if employees get their work done, it shouldn’t
matter if they use AI to work multiple jobs.

8 OUT OF 10
EXECUTIVES THINK EMPLOYEESSHOULD BE ALLOWED TO USE AI
TO WORK MULTIPLE JOBS

edX | Workplace Intelligence

11

EXECUTIVES AND EMPLOYEES ARE
MOVING QUICKLY TO ADAPT, BUT
WORKPLACE LEARNING PROGRAMS
AREN’T KEEPING UP
Of all executives surveyed, 76% say they’re adapting
their business strategy as a result of AI. Among
employees, 58% report that they’re taking steps toadapt to AI, including using AI on their own time or atwork. However, only 24% are using their company’s
learning & development programs to learn AI skills, and
21% say they’re learning AI skills on their own because
their company doesn’t offer the right training.

HOW EXECUTIVES AND EMPLOYEES ARE PREPARING FOR AI

76%

58%

41% have increased their training budgets for AI

26% are using AI on their own time for
personal tasks

OF THE C-SUITE SURVEYED ARE
ADAPTING THEIR BUSINESS STRATEGY:

39% are requiring their workforce to learn AI skills
39% are integrating AI within existing job roles
37% are hiring new talent with AI skills
31% have created a Chief AI Officer role(or are planning to do so)
27% are discussing eventually eliminating
entry-level roles that can be automatededX | Workplace Intelligence

OF EMPLOYEES SURVEYED ARE
TAKING STEPS TO ADAPT TO AI:

24% are using their company’s learning &development programs to learn AI skills
21% are openly using AI at work to improvetheir performance
21% are learning AI skills on their own because
their company doesn’t offer the right training

12Strikingly, both workers and executives lackconfidence in their company’s learning &development programs.
Within the last 12 months, 57% of employees and 89%of the C-Suite say they sought out learning content(e.g., courses, training, conferences, webinars) outsideof their company’s offerings — and many paid out-ofpocket for these programs.
Workers are so dissatisfied that an alarming 39%
say it’s likely they’ll leave their company within
the next year for a job that offers better learning& development opportunities. Among Gen Z andMillennials, that number rises to 51%.
Fortunately, the C-Suite agrees their organizations
could be doing more to support employee learning —including helping their team members improve their

AI skills. Nearly three-quarters of executives (72%)
believe their company should increase its investment inlearning & development programs focused on AI overthe next 1–2 years.
This is promising, especially since 84% of employees
say they expect their employer to provide the training
and education they need to stay up-to-date with theirskillset. In fact, 81% of workers and 93% of the C-Suite
agree that “companies are the new post-secondary
colleges” — meaning, employers have become
responsible for continuing employees’ education.
For executives, the business benefits of improving
their educational offerings are clear. Not only will thishelp future-proof their workforce, but it can also boost
retention, since 77% of employees say they’d be more
likely to stay with their company in the long run if itoffered a better learning & development program.

NEARLY

4 OUT OF 10EMPLOYEES SAY IT’S LIKELY
THEY’LL LEAVE THEIR COMPANY
FOR A JOB WITH BETTER LEARNING& DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIESedX | Workplace Intelligence

13

IS YOURWORKFORCE
READY FORTHE AGE OF AI?
There’s a pressing need for the C-Suite to integrate
AI within all levels of the organization — including intheir own roles. In fact, employees and executives
alike agree they need to become more proficientwith AI, they recognize that knowing how to use AI
will give them a significant career boost, and they’reeager to develop these skills as soon as possible.
For executives, the choice is clear: Either equip
employees with the right skillsets, or they will leaveor no longer be useful to your business. And while
there are many steps leaders should take to prepare
their workforce for AI, offering an outcomes-basedlearning & development program should be a central
part of the long-term strategy.

About edX
edX is the global online learning platform that
fuels the world’s ambition. edX was developed in2012 by Harvard and MIT to make the world’s besteducation available to everyone. Today, as a partof 2U, Inc. (Nasdaq: TWOU), edX connects over 78
million people with online learning to meet every
professional moment.
edX For Business is 2U’s comprehensive upskilling
and reskilling solution, chosen and trusted byenterprises across the globe. Designed to engage
every level of an organization, it offers an expansive
portfolio of outcomes-based online learning
programs taught by top universities and industry
leaders, including curated academies in artificial
intelligence, supply chain management, data
analytics, sustainability, and leadership. Find out
why employees of more than 60% of the Fortune
500 are learning with edX at edX.org/enterprise.

Methodology
Research findings are based on a survey
conducted by edX and Workplace Intelligence
between July 10 and July 24, 2023. In total, 1,600
full-time, U.S.-based employees completed thesurvey, including 800 C-Suite executives and 800
knowledge workers. Respondents were invited totake part in the survey via email and were provided
with a small monetary incentive for doing so.

edX | Workplace Intelligence

About Workplace Intelligence
Workplace Intelligence is an award-winningthought leadership and research agency
focused on the world of work. We help
companies, and their executives, tell theirworkplace story in a meaningful, relevant,and impactful way using primary data,
insights, and interviews. For more information
go to our website (workplaceintelligence.com)
and subscribe to our Insider newsletter(workplaceintelligence.com/newsletter).

14

To learn more about how we can help you future-proof
your team, contact enterprise@edx.org