Even the boss is worried! Hundreds of chief executives fear AI could steal their jobs too

Even your boss is worried AI could steal their job.

Hundreds of chief executives fear the technology will take over their role one day.

Many admit they already secretly use tools such as ChatGPT to help them carry out their daily responsibilities – and pass the work off as their own.

The finding comes just weeks after a leading think tank warned AI could take over eight million jobs in the UK.

Company bosses are hurriedly sending ‘novice’ staff on AI bootcamps to get them up to speed as a result, according to a report by AND Digital.

The survey of 600 business leaders found three quarters were retraining their employees in a bid to help them adapt to the technology rather than replacing them.

AI experts have predicted a 50-50 chance machines could take over all our jobs within a century.

But while the ‘jobs apocalypse’ is expected to automate admin and entry-level roles first, it will increasingly affect those higher paid as AI becomes increasingly sophisticated.

Nearly half – 43 per cent – of bosses polled admitted they too were worried AI could take steal their job.

While 45 per cent said they already secretly used tools AI tools for various tasks and passed it off as their own work.

This is despite one in three banning staff from using chatbots in their organisations.

The report by AND Digital, whose independent poll was conducted by Censuswide, found 44 per cent of global CEOs did not think their staff were ready to handle AI.

Bosses admit using tools such as ChatGPT – and passing the work off as their own.

Stephen Paterson, chief for technology and people at the tech firm, said: ‘CEOs cannot afford to be complacent when it comes to AI.

‘Neither can they allow a culture of fear and distrust surrounding new technologies to gain a foothold, so reskilling people and teams across all departments to the highest standards should be an absolute top priority.’

‘It is important for business leaders to establish a well-designed framework around AI in order to maximise value and mitigate risks, empowering people with the guidance and resources to innovate safely.

‘Failure to do so will leave them falling behind the competition and falling behind peers who do possess the AI skills to lead the new wave of tech innovation.’

Other business leaders have echoed the need to improve their employees’ skills as ‘AI continues to shake up traditional working models’.

Libero Raspa, director of IT consultancy Adesso UK, said: ‘. It is here to stay, and forward-thinking businesses will lay the groundwork now to ensure staff are fully equipped to embrace and deploy it ethically and responsibility for maximum customer impact.’

Experts are split on the effect AI will have on the global job market – but all are in agreement that it will, and already is, having a seismic impact.

BT last year unveiled plans to slash tens of thousands of jobs by 2030 – with around 10,000 set to be replaced by technology.

A survey of over 2,700 AI researchers in January meanwhile suggested AI could well be ‘better and cheaper’ than humans in every profession by 2116.

The date forecast is nearly 50 years earlier than the same prediction made the previous year, highlighting how quickly it is improving.

A report last month by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) suggested younger, lower-paid and female workers were likely to be affected first.

But this would increasingly affect higher-earners, it found, with the ‘worst case scenario’ seeing 7.9 million jobs if the government does not act.