KMPG survey shows that more Canadians are using A.I. tools at work

What types of work tasks have you performed using generative AI tools? (CNW Group/KPMG LLP)

TORONTO — Canadians are increasingly using generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools at work, with nearly a quarter (22 per cent) saying they now use the technology to help them do their jobs, finds new research from KPMG in Canada.

KPMG’s latest Generative AI Adoption survey of 4,515 Canadians found that not only are the number of Canadians using the tool growing, but those who use it are doing so more frequently than just six months ago. More than six in 10 (61 per cent) generative AI users now use the technology multiple times a week for work purposes, up from five in 10 (52 per cent) in May. One in five Canadians are using generative AI daily.

“The incredible speed of adoption after just one year of being introduced to the general public shows how generative AI has not only revolutionized the way people work, but it’s supercharged the speed of technology innovation as well, with breakthroughs happening at a much faster rate,” says Seamus Blackmore, a partner at KPMG in Canada and Toronto-based product leader in Lighthouse, the firm’s emerging technology practice.

“Many generative AI systems have already evolved from large language models to being multi-modal systems, meaning they create content from photos or voice commands rather than just text prompts. For business leaders, it’s imperative to keep up with this rapidly evolving technology, understand how it could affect their business, and adapt their strategies accordingly if they want to compete.”

Mr. Blackmore notes that adoption of the tool in the workplace is growing at an annualized growth rate of 32 per cent, which suggests that half of all Canadian workers could be using it within three years.

With generative AI uptake among Canada’s labour force growing over the past six months, trends are emerging on how employees are using the technology at work. Users are more diligent about checking the accuracy of content generated by AI, and they’re more transparent with their employers about their use of the tools.

Key survey highlights:

• 20 per cent of generative AI users are using the technology daily (up from 18 per cent in May)
  • 41 per cent say they use it a few times a week (up from 34 per cent)
• 77 per cent say their employers know they use generative AI at work, (up from 64 per cent)
• 55 per cent say they always check the accuracy of information produced by generative AI (up from 49 per cent)
• 90 per cent say generative AI tools have enhanced the quality of their professional work (up from 84 per cent)
• 72 per cent say using generative AI is essential to addressing their workload (up from 65 per cent)
• 76 per cent say using generative AI tools has allowed them to take on additional work that they would not have had the capacity to take on (up from 67 per cent)