Trust in AI high as workplaces increase implementation

As workplaces increasingly implement AI solutions into everyday work processes, so too does the trust in this tech increase. This will be essential to the success of bringing these systems into businesses, as the people are the ones who will be taking advantage of it.

Globally, executives who use artificial intelligence (AI) at their companies currently estimate that 70 per cent of their entire workforce will be utilising AI in the next five years. Even those not currently taking advantage of AI believe that 20 per cent of their workforce will be using it by 2028. This was all according to UKG’s AI at work: It’s here, it’s working, and how will it transform the workforce report.

“Organisations need to be proactive in taking the necessary precautions of AI use in the workplace. Without proper policies or guidance in place, you potentially open yourself to security risks. We need to learn how to work with this emerging technology and adopt, not fight against it,” commented Aaron Thorne, UKG’s vice-president and managing director of ANZSEA.

However, there may be more who don’t realise that their company is currently using AI. UKG posed the question: “To the best of your knowledge, are any of the workplace tools, systems or processes you personally encounter in your day-to-day work powered by AI?” Those who said “Yes” was 44 per cent, and 56 per cent said “No”.

Meanwhile, UKG also asked: “To the best of your knowledge, is your organisation using AI for any of its workplace tools, systems, or processes?” In which 47 per cent said “Yes” and 53 per cent said “No”.

This contradicts other data that claims that 77 per cent of organisations are using or exploring AI, meaning that many could be unaware of just how prevalent this tech is.

Despite this, trust in AI is very high, with 55 per cent somewhat trusting and 24 per cent completely trusting it. In fact, trust is so high that a quarter of Australians have entered confidential or sensitive work information.

The benefits AI can bring to organisational efficiency have been discussed to death. It appears people are recognising the benefits, too, as respondents listed the top areas that have seen a boost through the use of AI:

• Efficiency and productivity at work (66 per cent).
• Ability to spend time on meaningful tasks (63 per cent).
• Quality or accuracy of work (62 per cent).
• Engagement and job satisfaction (62 per cent).
• Ability to spend to collaborating or socialising (55 per cent).
• Overall happiness (53 per cent).
• Willingness to go above and beyond (53 per cent).

On the other hand, there are areas of business where people would be apprehensive to see AI assist. The top of which were:

• To help with firing and termination decisions (48 per cent).
• To help with promotion and advancement decisions (39 per cent).
• To help identify underperformers (35 per cent).

Embracing these tools may be necessary in the future of work as more and more workplaces make the move to implement AI into everyday processes. For employees, the key reasons for using AI were:

• Help me better balance my workload (87 per cent).
• Help automate time-consuming processes (86 per cent).
• Help my company improve its profitability (83 per cent).
• Help eliminate favouritism or bias and increase fairness (82 per cent).
• Help me complete more work in a regular shift (80 per cent).
• Help provide me with professional development (80 per cent).
• Help my manager create employee schedules (80 per cent).