Generative AI: Transforming Workforce Capabilities Beyond Existing Skill Sets

A new study by BCG Henderson Institute, alongside BCG X and Emma Wiles from Boston University, demonstrates how Generative AI can empower workers to tackle tasks beyond their current abilities, highlighting significant productivity gains and expanded capabilities without prior expertise in specific skills like coding or statistics.

A groundbreaking study conducted by the BCG Henderson Institute, in partnership with BCG X and Emma Wiles from Boston University, has revealed the expansive potential of Generative AI (GenAI) in enhancing workforce capabilities. The research, titled 'GenAI Doesn't Just Increase Productivity. It Expands Capabilities,' explores how GenAI can enable workers to undertake tasks that usually lie beyond their skill sets.

The study involved 480 BCG consultants who were asked to perform tasks typically handled by data scientists, including writing Python code, building predictive models, and validating ChatGPT-generated statistical analyses. Despite these tasks requiring significant expertise, participants with GenAI support, powered by GPT-4, showed remarkable improvements. They scored an average of 86% of the data scientists' benchmark in coding tasks, marking a 49-percentage point increase over those without AI assistance, and completed tasks 10% faster.

However, the research also highlighted limitations, particularly in predictive analytics, where both consultants and the GenAI tool struggled. Nevertheless, GenAI proved to be an effective brainstorming partner, enhancing problem-solving and suggesting new techniques. The key takeaway is that while GenAI enhances immediate task performance, it does not automatically translate to reskilling workers for independent task completion.

(With inputs from agencies.)