The tech industry has faced a tumultuous time in 2023, grappling with the rapid ascent of artificial intelligence (AI), the expansion of machine learning, and the emergence of new roles such as AI prompt engineers and ChatGPT consultants. Amidst this upheaval, OpenAI’s ChatGPT has emerged as both a beacon of hope and a harbinger of change.
A recent report by Sortlist surveyed 500 employees and employers in six different countries, revealing some intriguing insights about the impact of ChatGPT on jobs and productivity. The report outlined that 26% of employers are considering job cuts due to the rise of ChatGPT, with a majority targeting reductions in their marketing departments.
Millennials, particularly those working in tech and finance, are most concerned about this trend. They are 2.4 times more likely to worry about the impact of ChatGPT on their careers. Simultaneously, both employees and employers predict an average productivity increase of 66% to 74% with the use of generative AI.
Interestingly, half of the employees who believe that their productivity could double or even triple with ChatGPT are from Generation Z. While AI-generated content is becoming more human-like, 39% of the survey respondents expressed concerns about a potential loss of human touch.
Furthermore, the report revealed a surprising fact: 43% of employers are considering hiring ChatGPT as a marketing copywriter. This adoption of AI in the workplace has sparked a debate over the potential for “watermarking” AI-generated content to indicate it was created by a machine. A considerable 67% of sales and customer success employees believe that watermarking could render the chatbot useless, as it could be perceived as untrustworthy.
The report also highlighted the willingness of the tech industry to invest in ChatGPT Professional. Those ready to pay more than €250 per month were twice as likely to fully trust the chatbot’s output.
However, despite the potential productivity increase, the report cautions against the unchecked use of ChatGPT. Some employers who are willing to pay less than €50 a month expressed that they would not trust the AI to work unsupervised.
In conclusion, ChatGPT has stirred up differing perceptions among employees and employers regarding its potential impact on the workforce. It’s clear that AI’s integration, particularly in marketing departments, will reshape both the finance and software tech sectors.
The full effect of AI on the job market remains to be seen. However, it’s certain that ChatGPT and similar technologies will continue to revolutionize industries, creating both opportunities and challenges for the workforce.
Key Statistics for B2B Marketers
The report presents several key statistics and insights that could be particularly relevant for B2B marketers:
- ChatGPT Impact on Jobs: 26% of employers plan job cuts due to ChatGPT, with 51% of those planning to cut expecting to do so in the marketing department.
- AI Tools in Job Market: AI and language models like ChatGPT are being widely adopted in various aspects of marketing due to their natural language processing capabilities.
- ChatGPT as a Copywriter: 43% of employers want to hire ChatGPT as a marketing copywriter to create AI-generated content, such as blog posts and social media captions.
- Productivity Increase: Employers predict an average of 74% productivity increase with generative AI. 41% of employers expect ChatGPT to double their productivity in marketing and PR departments and plan to use it to create marketing copy.
- Loss of Human Touch: While AI-generated content is becoming more human-like, 39% of respondents expressed concerns about a potential loss of human touch in the job market. This is a vital consideration for B2B marketers who rely on building and maintaining strong, personal relationships with their clients.
- Watermarking AI Content: 82% of employers think a watermark wouldn’t make a difference to their use of AI technologies. However, there are concerns about AI-generated content appearing untrustworthy, particularly when reaching out to or responding to clients.
- Investment in ChatGPT: The tech industry, including many B2B marketers, is showing a willingness to invest in ChatGPT Professional. Those willing to pay more than €250 per month are twice as likely to fully trust the chatbot’s output.
These statistics underscore the growing role of AI like ChatGPT in the B2B marketing landscape, offering both opportunities for increased productivity and challenges in maintaining a human touch in communication.
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