AI Embraced by a Fifth of UK Employees: Corporate Leadership Remains Unaware
Rapid advancements and increasing public understanding of generative AI have been marked in recent times. The Office for National Statistics' (ONS) Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN) highlighted that comprehension of AI among adults has significantly risen over the past 12 months, with 72% now capable of providing an elementary AI description.
Contrasting this to 2022’s measurement from the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation’s Public Attitudes to Data and AI Tracker Survey (PADAI), where it was at 56%, underscores this steady growth. Furthermore, daily usage figures suggest that approximately five percent of UK adults frequently use AI while nearly half use it occasionally.
The world of work isn't left out from integrating AI; data released from ONS’ Business and Insights Conditions Survey (BICS) show about one-sixth of firms currently deploy at least single applications driven by artificial intelligence. The prime preferences are bolstering cybersecurity measures or ramping up operational efficiencies - each making up about thirty-five percent.
However, such rapid integration is raising eyebrows amongst lawmaker circles and leading tech executives alike. Geoffrey Hinton, often referred to as the 'godfather of AI', recently resigned his position at Google; expressing regrets on certain aspects via a statement published in the New York Times. According to him, imminent potential challenges posed by advanced chatbots are 'concerningly ominous'. He further suggested machines could soon surpass human cognitive capabilities.
His apprehension is mirrored by technological pioneers like Elon Musk & Steve Wozniak who earlier called upon the broader industry in open letters to consider temporarily slowing down activities around artificial intelligence development until safety standards were established adequately.
In response, The House of Lords' Communications & Digital Committee announced their exploration into extensive language models (LMMs). Baroness Stowell of Beeston commenting as chairperson stated: “Compelling opportunities exist due to evolving vast language models, but we must evaluate risks comprehensively without hindering innovation."
Switching gears towards caution: recent surveys conducted by Aimpoint Digital reveals some interesting trends within workplaces. It suggests 20% of people in Britain have experienced an interactive tool powered by Artificial Intelligence supplemented with another 21% admitting they used such tools during work hours – half revealing instances were unbeknownst to their employers!
Popular uses include experimental exploratory occasions, testing capabilities (45%), pushing boundaries (35%) involving diverse learning topics (33%), suggesting positive implications too– rather than merely threaten jobs per se they may simplify them! Competent digital assistants alongside advanced generative-AI instruments may reduce mundane tasks off employee schedules thus enabling streamlined operations with increased automation.
