Research by the BCG Henderson Institute, BCG X, and Boston University highlights the impact of Generative AI on knowledge workers. It demonstrates that consultants’ performance increases by up to 49% on complex data science tasks beyond their existing skills.
Generative AI is opening up the doors to making everyone proficient in any domain. Think of anybody who seems dull and knows nothing. Generative AI would be his best partner by suggesting what to do and surprisingly how to do it.
BCG researched how AI can help people to handle tasks beyond their current skills. Instead of enhancing the existing skills they challenge AI for new sophisticated tasks. By doing so, they assess the full extent of AI’s capabilities.
BCG figured out that 480 consultants finished their tasks similar to those a data scientist might do. The tasks include writing code to manage datasets, building predictive models for sports reports, and checking the statistical results generated by ChatGPT.
To help evaluate participants’ performance, their results were compared with those of 44 BCG data scientists who worked without the assistance of GenAI.
To analyze the performance of participants, the results were compared with consultants who didn’t use AI for their tasks. The research by BCG addresses two major queries.
- Can Generative AI be used for tasks that are beyond their area of expertise? OR Can AI perform tasks beyond its training?
- How can companies bring innovation to their task in collaboration with regenerative AI?
Generative AI: Master in Turning Limited Knowledge into Skillful Results
With the help of Generative AI, consultants were able to expand their capabilities. With zero knowledge of coding, consultants were able to write coding and apply machine learning models. Seems that they were well aware of what to do.
Compared to those who did not use gen AI, participants who employed gen AI got an average score that was 49% higher, or 86% of the benchmark set by data scientists. Additionally, the gen AI team finished the work about 10% quicker than the data scientists.
Dan Sack, BCG managing director and coauthor of the study came up with the results saying:
“GenAI-augmented workers excel at new tasks within the tool’s capabilities. Executives must prepare for this future by redefining expertise and developing skills to retain talent.”
Additionally, the study observes that although GenAI-Augmented workers gained new skills, they didn’t truly “learn” them. Deep, intrinsic learning requires intentional effort and greater repetition than just using AI to complete tasks.
