Artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to significantly change how business is done in New Zealand with most local organisations planning to use the technology by 2028.

The majority of employers, at 90 per cent, responding to a survey commissioned by AWS expected to use AI-related solutions, such as chatbots and speech recognition, within their organisations.

Additionally, 93 per cent believed AI would positively impact their organisations to some degree, but many remain unsure about the skills their workers need to realise these benefits.

The three biggest beneficiaries of AI are expected to be IT (86 per cent), sales and marketing (85 per cent) and finance (83 per cent).

AWS commissioned Access Partnership to conduct the study, titled Accelerating AI skills: preparing the workforce in New Zealand for jobs of the future, which received responses from over 1,600 workers and more than 500 employers.

Kiwi employers believed AI could enhance work processes, such as automating repetitive tasks (63 per cent), improving workflow and outcomes (63 per cent) and enhancing communication (57 per cent), the research found.

Generative AI, in particular, was expected to transform how we work. Most respondents, at 92 per cent, expected to benefit from generative AI, an advanced form of the technology that can create new content and ideas.

Given all that, hiring AI-skilled talent was a priority for more than 60 per cent of Kiwi employers yet 70 per cent struggle to find the talent they needed, highlighting a looming AI skills gap in the country.

The new research shows that when AI is fully harnessed, employers across New Zealand indicated they were willing to pay these workers 30 per cent more, with those in IT (41 per cent) and research and development (38 per cent) enjoying the highest pay bumps.

"Generative AI offers an unprecedented opportunity to transform businesses in New Zealand and this research shows that AI skills are imperative for the future workforce and the continued growth of Aotearoa,” said Pip Gilbert, head of strategy, AWS, Australia and New Zealand.

“From financial services to construction, retail and utilities, industries are embracing AI at pace, which is why an AI-skilled workforce is essential to supporting our Kiwi can-do culture of innovation and driving productivity in New Zealand."

The survey also indicated interest in acquiring AI skills to advance careers transcends generations and can create a more inclusive workforce, with 70 per cent of baby boomers (those above the age of 55) saying they would enrol in an AI upskilling course if it was offered by their employer.

By fully adopting and integrating AI into their operations, New Zealand employers believed the technology could boost productivity by 49 per cent by automating routine tasks, such as data entry and appointment scheduling, for example.

Workers agreed, indicating that AI would help them complete tasks 46 per cent more efficiently.

Additionally, 88 per cent of workers in New Zealand expected to use AI in their daily work by 2028, of which 26 per cent expected to use it "extensively."

"This research by AWS further reinforces the importance of AI for New Zealand's future and the need to invest in skilling our workforce to support the future needs of our country," said Graeme Muller, chief executive of tech industry body NZTech.

This article originally appeared on Reseller News.