Global Courant
With the rise of ChatGPT and other forms of generative artificial intelligence, a new survey conducted by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) shows that frontline workers, managers and leaders in 18 countries are more optimistic than concerned about AI.
According to the research, leaders are much more optimistic (62 percent) than frontline workers (42 percent) about AI, while 62 percent of regular users and 36 percent of non-users feel the same way.
However, while optimism about AI has increased among workers compared to five years ago when generative AI was still in the lab, some are recognizing the technology’s transformative potential to threaten work.
For example, according to the survey, more than a third of the 12,800 respondents believe their jobs will disappear within the next ten years.
The survey found that 44 percent of leaders received training to hone their skills and stay relevant, while the share is only 14 percent for frontline workers who said they had the same training.
To fill the gap, the research suggests leaders should encourage frontline workers to use AI responsibly and train them in the skills required by the new era.
BCG data indicates that the use of AI within companies around the world has increased from 22 percent in 2018 to 50 percent in 2023.
Nearly half of respondents (46 percent) said they’ve experimented with generative Al, and 27 percent said they sue it regularly.
The percentage is lower for frontline workers (21 percent) when it comes to regular use of generative AI, while the share is 81 percent for leaders.
Overall, the survey shows that a whopping 71 percent of respondents believe the benefits of generative AI outweigh the associated risks. However, 79 percent expressed support for regulating AI to effectively address these risks.
According to the survey, 68 percent of leaders said their organization has an adequate responsible AI program, while 29 percent of frontline workers feel the same way.
The research recommends that companies act quickly by gaining trust, training and using responsible AI programs to get the most out of this powerful technology.
Coverage for this story was paid for through the Meta-funded The Afghan Journalists in Residence Project.
