Federal workers ready to thrive in the age of AI
February 15, 2019
February 15, 2019
While there is little dispute about the need or urgency to transform the federal workforce, there remains significant uncertainty about how to make it happen. That’s especially true when it comes to integrating intelligent technologies and empowering the workforce to collaborate effectively with artificial intelligence (AI).
Working with Government Business Council, Accenture Federal Services surveyed nearly 500 civilian and defense agency employees to explore their perceptions of intelligent technologies like AI and their potential impact on the federal workforce.
51 percent of respondents expect roles in collaboration with AI to increase; however, only 26 percent say their agency has communicated the potential impacts well.
Half (50 percent) believe their agency is committed to ensuring employee role and skills benefit from new technologies while 29 percent disagree.
78 percent are confident in their current skills, 76 percent note adaptability as top attribute needed. Plus 88 percent have interest in learning new skills.
31 percent believe AI will create opportunities for their work, but 61 percent of respondents are worried about lack of technical support and user training.
Change won’t happen overnight, but how can agencies start preparing their workforce for the world of AI? Here are recommendations for where to dive in:
The federal C-suite needs to tackle workforce transformation together. Each business function may have different needs, and one “size” of training no longer fits all. What works for a subset of the IT workforce may not be appropriate for the finance function, and vice versa. The key is to engage the federal workforce early and often—ensuring that they are co-creators, and trainers, not merely “trainees,” in the government of the future.
See the insights from our recent federal workforce survey. The data reveals AI trends, opinions and potential obstacles that agencies can take advantage of today.
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