Dubai: 94% of government staff back generative AI, 55% worry about job risks, study finds

Dubai: A landmark study has revealed that while 94 per cent Dubai government employees were optimistic about the impact of generative AI on the workplace, about 55 per cent remained concerned about the job displacement risks.

Titled ‘Generative AI Adoption Amongst Dubai Government Employees’, the report was launched by the Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR) in partnership with the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG) during a special session at Dubai AI Week.

This first-of-its-kind report offers an in-depth look at the adoption and perception of generative AI among government employees in Dubai – from senior management to front-line staff. It is based on responses from more than 1,530 public sector employees across at least 34 Dubai government departments, alongside in-depth interviews with Chief Artificial Intelligence Officers.

64% users

The study uncovered key insights into the behaviours, trends, opportunities and challenges associated with the rise of generative AI.
An overwhelming 94 per cent of employees expressed optimism about the impact of generative AI on government operations. Meanwhile, 64 per cent of public sector users reported using generative AI at an intermediate or advanced level. Among those, nearly 97 per cent noted benefits such as time savings, improved work quality, productivity and increased creativity.

Generative AI is most commonly used for email drafting, content creation and research processes assistance, with expert users leveraging the technology for a wider range of complex tasks.
“Empowering government employees to engage with generative artificial intelligence is in line with the vision of our wise leadership,” said Abdulla Ali Bin Zayed Al Falasi, Director-General of the Dubai Government Human Resources Department.

Job jitters

Regarding the potential exposure of public sector jobs to generative AI, 55 per cent government employees expressed some concern about the job displacement risks that generative AI may pose. The study found that employees with higher education levels had lower reported concerns of job displacement.

The report also highlighted notable concerns like public servants pointing out issues such as inaccurate outputs, data privacy risks, biased output and unreliable performance. While 83 per cent of respondents acknowledged the positive impact of introducing ethical guidelines for generative AI, four in 10 employees were unaware of any existing ethical frameworks guiding AI use in their work.

What’s next?

Based on the findings, the study calls for comprehensive training programmes on generative AI for employees, ranging from awareness building to specialised competencies, ethical assessments of AI, and governance.

“The conclusions drawn from this study will be essential in formulating policies that support innovation while ensuring adoption of AI advancements in an inclusive, safe, and ethically guided manner,” Dr Ali bin Sebaa Al Marri, MBRSG’s Executive President, noted.