Artificial intelligence (AI) has become the primary driving force for change within many professional workplaces today, changing perceptions of what AI can do for professional work.

According to a recent survey, more than three-quarters (77%) of respondents believe AI will have a high or transformational impact on their work over the next five years.

Thomson Reuters 2nd annual Future of Professionals Report shows that among thousands of professionals surveyed, the rise of AI is clearly the dominant issue propelling change in their respective professions.

What do government professionals want from AI usage?

Government professionals surveyed among legal, law enforcement, and risk management roles shared that they perceive AI having a significant impact on their work, but their perspectives on its usage are evolving.

Interestingly, while government professionals have the lowest average work hours per week at 44 hours, more than half (51%) reported not having enough time to accomplish everything they would like in their role. They expect the least amount of freed-up time over the next year, at just 2 hours per week, due to increased AI use.

Shifting the cautious perception within government work

Government professionals’ perspectives around AI are significantly more cautious, with about 20% believing that AI uptake will be hindered by internal issues such as organizational appetite for change, data quality, and budgetary constraints.

Despite this cautious outlook, there is an opportunity for government organizations to shift their professionals’ views on AI-driven efficiency through the deployment of existing solutions that could ease their work burdens.

In conclusion, while government professionals tend to be more cautious than their corporate counterparts, the perspectives represented in the report should encourage fuller investment in both technology and talent to better serve the public.