Box 1: Workers expect artificial intelligence to boost their productivity
This quarter, the Canadian Survey of Consumer Expectations included questions on whether and how workers are using artificial intelligence (AI) on the job and how AI is shaping their perceptions of job conditions.
Workers are mainly using AI for tasks that improve their individual productivity, such as writing, planning and data analysis (Chart 1‑A). Fewer consumers reported AI being used in core business processes, where AI tools are embedded in activities like automating workflows. In follow‑up interviews, one person noted, “I think it can help and take care of mundane tasks that you don’t need to think about.”
As a result, early gains from AI adoption could partly reflect improvements in worker efficiency. Broader firm‑level productivity gains may take longer to materialize until AI becomes more fully integrated into production processes and operations. As one respondent explained, “Right now, it’s the beginning of AI…. It is used as an aid, not as a replacement.”
