
The threat of artificial intelligence (AI) will be enough to compel workers to return to the office, PwC U.K. Chair Kevin Ellis predicted during a recent livestream event, The Telegraph reported.
Addressing 25,000 PwC employees at the event, focusing on AI technology, Ellis said that, “[f]or professional services, where researching and summarizing data is a key part of junior roles, AI has the potential to fast-track year one trainees to year three. You’re freeing people up to do more," according to the Telegraph.
"People are going to want to learn from others face to face, and the best way a human can differentiate themselves from a robot is in person," he said.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) examined data from the U.K. Office of National Statistics (ONS) from January to March, finding that private-sector workers were more likely than public-sector workers to be working primarily from home. The Centre for Cities, a think tank, said that the work from a home “experiment” undertaken by many British companies could hurt younger workers and have unintended economic impact.
According to the Telegraph, the average person working in London pends just 2.3 days in the office—primarily on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The think tank urged London Mayor Saqik Khan to “work with businesses to encourage an increase of the minimum number of days expected in the office.”