Results from a new survey predicts AI will free up to 12 hours per week within the next five years, with four hours per week saved in the next year alone.

This, according to global content and technology firm Thomson Reuters, is just one of the benefits shown in its newly released “2024 Future of Professionals” report, an annual survey of more than 2,200 professionals working across legal, tax and risk & compliance fields globally.

This potential time saved is the equivalent productivity boost of adding an extra colleague for every 10 team members on staff, the report noted.

The report shows knowledge workers are optimistic about significant boosts to productivity, with AI poised to redefine workflows, drive innovation and unlock new opportunities for growth.

The sharp uptick in interest in AI is a major catalyst for innovation across industries, the report found.

Overall, 77 percent of professionals now predict AI will have a high or transformational impact on their work over the next five years, up 10 percentage points from last year. In addition, 79 percent anticipate innovation at their companies will increase.

Over that same period, they anticipate 56 percent of work will utilize new AI-powered technology.

The survey revealed there is a strong desire for implementation of AI standards, with 57 percent of professionals indicating a certification processes for AI systems should be introduced, and 55 percent indicating professional or industry bodies should make their own standards.

“Professionals no longer need to speculate on the potential for AI to impact their work as they are now witnessing its effects firsthand. As we look to the future, one thing is clear: AI-empowered professionals and their companies will outpace those who resist this transformative era,” said Steve Hasker, president and CEO, Thomson Reuters. “With professionals predicting that AI will save them up to 200 hours in the next year, the potential economic impact is significant. For a U.S. lawyer, the time saved could translate to up to $100,000 a year in additional billable time, and we can expect similar productivity gains across other professions. The responsible use of AI is crucial, with nearly two-thirds of professionals stressing human oversight. As we navigate this change, we must remember the future of AI is ours to shape.”*

This year’s study underscores the overwhelming sense of enthusiasm professionals have for AI.

AI, and specifically generative AI (Gen AI), solutions for the legal, tax and risk & compliance sectors have been among the most widely adopted categories of professional-grade AI applications to date, the response showed. In fact, 63 percent of those surveyed are already using AI-powered technologies as a starting point for tasks, with research, summarization and drafting cited as the most common use cases.

The report’s findings are categorized into three main themes: productivity, responsibility and value. The following are some of the study’s key insights:

Productivity:

Key driver of innovation, job growth and improved productivity:

The top areas professionals expect to see concrete improvements over the next five years are “more innovation” (79 percent), “more time spent on engaging, judgment-based or expertise-driven work” (66 percent), “greater opportunity for continual skill building” (57 percent) and “improved work-life balance” (51 percent).

AI as top strategic priority for legal profession:

Asked to indicate their strategic priorities for the next 18 months, 50 percent of law firm respondents selected AI in their top five, edging out productivity (49 percent). The top areas where corporate C-suite respondents anticipate AI will have the biggest impact are operational strategy (59 percent), product/service strategy (53 percent) and talent strategy (40 percent).

Responsibility:

AI holdouts seek guidance from their employers:

While the majority (63 percent) of respondents are already using AI-powered technologies as a starting point for tasks, 37 percent of those surveyed have not tried the technology in their work, the report found.

Among the top reasons for staying on the sidelines, 35 percent are unsure what type of work the technology can be used for and 28 percent are unsure how to access it.

Responsible use of AI is crucial:

The vast majority (95 percent) of professionals agree it’s a step too far to allow AI to represent clients in court or make final decisions on complex legal, tax and risk, fraud & compliance matters.

Areas where professionals are more comfortable with AI include drafting basic documents, research and analysis, and basic administrative tasks. A majority (57 percent) of respondents say certification processes for AI systems should be introduced, and 55 percent believe professional or industry bodies should be tasked with developing these standards.

Value:

AI and data to have transformational impact on professional services:

When asked the impact of various trends over the next five years, respondents overwhelmingly identified “the rise of AI and GenAI” as having the greatest impact (77 percent predicting high or transformational impact), followed by “explosion in data volumes” (59 percent).

Positive market sentiment and transformative potential:

Professionals view AI as a “force for good” (78 percent), recognizing its potential to enhance efficiency and bring new value to their work.

With widespread adoption, we could see AI drive significant innovation, improve work-life balance and provide substantial economic benefits over the next five years, Thomson Reuters said.

About the study

Research was conducted in April and May 2024 via an online survey. More than 2,200 professionals from the legal, tax and accounting, and risk and compliance fields employed by corporations, firms, and government agencies completed the survey. Approximately 44 percent of participants were based in the United States, with the majority of other respondents in the UK, Canada, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand.

Most of the respondents were in traditional roles, meaning those in the legal industry were lawyers, those in the tax and accounting industry were accountants and CPAs; in addition, respondents included 200 corporate C-suite professionals.

From a generational perspective, the largest number of respondents represented Millennials (those born between 1981-1996), followed by Gen X (those born between 1965-1980), and Baby Boomers (those born between 1946-1964), and Gen Z (those born between 1997-2012). A handful of respondents represented the Silent Generation (born prior to 1946).