Only 48% of accounting, consulting, legal, and private capital professionals have used AI tools at work despite near-universal demand for the technology

New study from Intapp finds wide gulf between professionals’ expectations and reality regarding firms’ tech-savviness and AI usage

PALO ALTO, Calif., April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Knowledge workers across accounting, consulting, private capital, and law are eager to leverage AI technology to automate manual tasks, work more efficiently, and derive greater career satisfaction. Firms have incentive to equip their professionals with the AI tools and training necessary to increase their productivity, help them achieve performance goals, and ensure their retention. These findings and more are revealed in the 2024 Technology Perceptions study released today by Intapp (NASDAQ: INTA), a leading global provider of AI-powered solutions for professionals in advisory, legal, and capital markets firms.

The survey of more than 800 fee earners in the U.S. and U.K. was designed and executed to help inform and support Intapp’s Intelligence Applied strategy. Its purpose is to provide insight into how professionals believe AI will enhance their work performance, and what AI technologies are most needed to help firms remain competitive. The results showed that less than half (45%) of survey respondents rate their firms as highly tech-savvy. And while 91% expressed a desire to use AI in their day-to-day work, only 48% currently leverage the technology.

“Professionals take technology into consideration when deciding which firm is right for them, expecting at least the level of AI-enabled technology they use in their personal lives,” said Ben Harrison, President of Industries at Intapp. “They know AI and other advanced technologies have the power to transform business operations and create a competitive edge, and they expect it to help them improve collaboration, automate tasks, and support knowledge management on a daily basis.”

Growing interest in AI
Many professionals have already seen the benefits of advanced tools in their own personal lives.

• 77% of survey respondents agreed that technology makes them more productive in their personal lives
• 59% responded that they already use AI technologies in their personal lives, including voice queries, data entry, data summarization, document generation, and recommendations (such as when to schedule an appointment)

Naturally, many professionals want to use AI technology in the workplace, like they do at home. This is especially true for assisting them with data entry and content generation: