The Rise of the AI Power User

Welcome back to AI at Work, a newsletter and video series that explores unlocking the value and power of AI in the workplace. 

What power users reveal about the future of work   

In our fourth annual Work Trend Index, Microsoft identified four types of AI users—from skeptics who rarely use AI to power users who use it extensively. When we looked deeper at each one, we saw noticeable differences—not only in how they work but also how they feel about work. 

Power users use AI regularly, saving themselves more than half an hour every day. They told us it makes their workload more manageable, boosts creativity, and helps them focus on important tasks. These power users are more likely to:  

• Research and try new prompts 

• Regularly experiment with different ways of using AI 

• Before starting a task, ask themselves “could AI help me with this?” 

• Start their day using AI and use it to get ready for the next workday 

• Share prompts and tips on AI usage with co-workers 

• Make it a priority to learn how to use AI effectively 

Put simply, they see AI as a new way to do their job and are reprogramming the way they work. They’re not doing it all on their own, though, but being empowered by a different kind of organization, where: 

• Senior leaders lean in: Power users are 61% more likely to have heard about the importance of using generative AI at work from their CEO. 

• Their company culture is change-ready: They’re 53% more likely to say leadership has encouraged them to consider how AI can transform their function. 

• They get tailored training: AI power users are more likely to say they’ve gotten training on prompt-writing (37%), how to use AI for their specific role or function (35%), and on specific use cases like writing or analyzing data (32%). 

AI power users provide a window into the future—revealing what’s possible when employees embrace new ways of working and leaders lean in. 

The path forward: five actions to take 

We’ve arrived at a pivotal moment for AI at work. Just as we look back at the pre-PC era, we’ll one day wonder how work got done without AI. Already, it is helping people be more creative and productive. Over time, it will change every aspect of work. 

The challenge ahead is to channel the enthusiasm for AI into business impact. AI transformation will look different for each organization, but here are five actions every company can take: 

1. Go for the clear wins: There are efficiency gains to be had across every function—the key is to pick a process and apply AI to those that will drive ROI fastest. 

2. Skill up: In this new world, AI aptitude rivals experience, so provide tailored AI training for specific roles, functions, and use cases. 

3. Embrace a growth mindset: Over half of those using AI at work are reluctant to admit it or worry that it makes them look replaceable. Lead by example and make it the norm for everyone to use AI, to offer ideas, and to learn from missteps and celebrate successes along the way. 

4. Foster AI champions: Identify your AI power users and influencers, encourage them to consider how AI can transform their functions, and help them to build adoption across their teams. 

5. Shift your perspective: AI should be about doing new work, not more of the same work. Think about how you can empower employees to achieve what was previously impossible. 

Fresh perspectives 

 A roundup of perspectives and thought-provoking insights from across the web into what AI means for leaders and the future of work. 

• Jaime Teevan, Chief Scientist and Technical Fellow at Microsoft, tells Fortune that AI will start asking us questions rather than the other way around. 

• According to Fast Company, AI isn’t a threat to employment, but a catalyst for long-term job growth and transformation across sectors. 

• New research shows that AI can enhance and empower leadership, helping make leaders more human. 

For more insights into AI and the future of work, subscribe to this newsletter.