A report by Salesforce has found that more than a third of Spanish workers (39%) believe that mastering generative artificial intelligence (AI) will help them get a promotion at work. However, the study also warns that the lack of clearly defined policies around the use of this technology may be putting companies at risk.

The report reveals that 61% of Spanish workers claim to have used generative AI tools that are not formally approved by their company, and up to 33% have used them despite being expressly prohibited. Many of these employees turn to the new technology without any training, guidance, or approval from their company.

The study, titled ‘The Promises and Difficulties of Generative AI at Work’, compiles the opinions of more than 14,000 workers from fourteen countries, including Spain. It points out that company policies and training around generative AI are not clearly defined or, at best, ambiguous. Despite this, workers recognize the importance of this technology in advancing their careers, with 74% of those who use it saying it makes them more productive.

However, this lack of training and defined policies has led users to perform ethically questionable activities at work when using generative AI. For example, some have passed off AI work as their own or inflated their skills. Moreover, the report reveals that 86% of Spanish workers believe there are barriers to using generative AI at work.

To address these challenges, the report emphasizes the need for companies to invest in safe