Should promotion depend on how workers use AI?

Duncan Trevithick, a 34-year-old marketing professional, questions the logic behind linking AI proficiency with career advancement. Trevithick argues that while mastering AI can secure bonuses, it also risks proving his job is obsolete.

Other big names like Disney and JP Morgan have introduced “AI leaderboards,” ranking employees based on their tech-savviness. This practice is seen as a way to maximize returns on AI investments, despite only 94% of companies having realized significant value from AI, according to McKinsey.

Employees must adapt, especially as job vacancies in the UK reach a five-year low. Yet, 75% of UK jobseekers would not shy away from companies tracking AI proficiency, seeing it as a norm rather than a barrier.

Legal experts advise clear policies and transparent communication about the role of AI in performance, but the shift is causing discontent. Pamela, a senior executive, observes a “two-tier workforce” where AI proficiency can mean the difference between a quick promotion and a slower one.