Almost two thirds of all respondents expect positive effects from the use of AI, for example through faster and error-free work or a better work-life balance picture alliance / ZB | Jens Kalaene
65 percent of students in Germany expect positive effects of AI in their professional lives, according to an EY survey.
Over a quarter of those surveyed consider AI knowledge to be essential when starting a career.
86 percent of students use AI applications during their studies, for example for research or text creation.
A survey by the consulting firm Ernst & Young (EY) shows that a considerable number of students in Germany hope that digital assistants with artificial intelligence (AI) will make their future careers easier. Almost two thirds (65 percent) of all respondents expect positive effects from the use of AI, for example through faster and error-free work or a better work-life balance. Only 14 percent expect negative consequences such as job losses. A good fifth of those surveyed consider AI irrelevant for their future professional life.
From the perspective of students, knowledge of artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly important not only in everyday working life, but also for starting a career: more than a quarter of the students surveyed stated that knowledge of possible AI applications is already essential for starting a career. More than half (55 percent) believe this will happen soon.
Jan-Rainer Hinz, labor director at EY, emphasizes that artificial intelligence and its applications are already significantly changing the labor market and are doing so to an increasing extent. He emphasizes how important it is for companies to recruit employees who are familiar with AI and already know its possible applications. Hinz is of the opinion that the innovative spirit of today’s generation of students combined with the experience of older employees can have a positive effect.
86 percent of the students surveyed use AI applications during their studies
According to the survey, almost nine out of ten respondents (86 percent) use AI applications more or less frequently during their studies: 13 percent of respondents use tools such as chatbots frequently, 41 percent occasionally and 32 percent very rarely. They used these applications, among other things, for research, to clarify comprehension questions or to create texts.
The study was carried out by a market research institute on behalf of EY among more than 2,000 students in Germany. The representative online survey took place in February. 59 percent of those surveyed were in a bachelor’s degree program. A good quarter were aiming for a master’s or magister’s degree, ten percent were aiming for the state examination. Diploma and doctoral students were represented in the single-digit percentage range.
AA/dpa