First of two parts
IN BRIEF:
• Despite the extensive use of artificial intelligence (AI), a gap in adoption remains, highlighting the difference between individuals’ willingness to use AI and their actual engagement with it.
• Organizations have the opportunity to bridge this divide by fostering trust in AI, showcasing its benefits, and empowering employees to engage with the technology on their own terms.
• Understanding current attitudes toward AI, including comfort levels and practical applications, is essential for leaders to make informed decisions and demonstrate the value of AI to employees.
Artificial intelligence has emerged as a crucial element in contemporary life and work. The AI Sentiment Index Study, conducted by market research firm EY Sweeney, surveying over 15,000 participants globally, found that 82% had actively engaged with AI in the past six months. This trend signifies a significant shift in human capability rather than just a technological advancement. The research utilized a random stratified sampling method to ensure diverse demographic representation across 15 countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, South Korea, Sweden, the UAE, the UK, and the US.
Despite the extensive use of AI, a gap in adoption remains — this gap highlights the difference between individuals’ willingness to use AI and their actual engagement with it. Issues related to trust, privacy, and control contribute to this gap, along with the current availability of AI tools. Organizations have a substantial opportunity to bridge this divide.
Leadership is vital in this context. Organizations that build trust in AI, showcase its benefits, and place humans at center by empowering them to engage with AI on their own terms will be best equipped to implement AI effectively. By utilizing AI in ways that align with human needs and aspirations, organizations can ultimately enhance human potential rather than diminish it, shaping the role of AI in business and society.
AI’S IMPACT ON EVERYDAY LIFEUnderstanding present attitudes toward AI provides insights into its future trajectory. People’s interactions with AI today reflect a practical approach. Most individuals seek to understand how AI can help them achieve their objectives. Currently, AI is mainly employed for straightforward, efficiency-driven tasks such as managing energy consumption, researching topics, or summarizing information. When AI offers immediate, tangible benefits, individuals are more likely to engage.
However, AI adoption hinges on confidence as much as functionality, with clear boundaries around where individuals feel comfortable using AI. More complex systems or tasks requiring personal data, e.g., AI-powered health diagnostics, credit scoring algorithms, personalized marketing, etc., often evoke hesitation. As AI evolves, these boundaries will shift, necessitating that business leaders make informed decisions based on current and emerging trends.
The AI Sentiment Index quantifies global comfort levels with AI, currently scoring 68 out of 100. This index averages comfort levels based on factors such as the presence of AI in daily life, its personal impact, its national impact, and excitement for its future. A higher score indicates greater comfort with AI, and the index categorizes respondents into three groups: uncomfortable, neutral, and comfortable.
Those most at ease with AI engage significantly more, averaging 15 different AI applications in the past six months, compared to six among neutral respondents and just three among the uncomfortable. This data reveals a reinforcing cycle: comfort with AI encourages exploration of more applications, gradually increasing confidence and usage.
DEMONSTRATING THE VISION AND VALUE OF AITo get employees on board with the vision and the value of AI, it’s critical to demonstrate its value, prioritizing progress over perfection and recognizing how the technology affects emotions within an organization.
These examples illustrate the importance of demonstrating the value of AI to employees, prioritizing progress over perfection, and recognizing the emotional impact of technology within an organization:
1. Training and development programs: Implement AI-driven training tools that personalize learning experiences for employees. By showcasing how AI can enhance their skills and career growth, employees may feel more positive about the technology.
2. Employee feedback systems: Use AI to analyze employee feedback and sentiment in real-time. This can help management understand employee concerns and emotions, fostering a culture of openness and trust.
3. Streamlined workflows: Introduce AI tools that automate repetitive tasks, allowing employees to focus on more meaningful work. Highlighting the time saved and increased job satisfaction can help employees embrace AI.
4. Data-driven decision making: Implement AI analytics to provide insights that support decision-making processes. Demonstrating how AI can lead to better outcomes can help employees see its value in their daily work.
5. Collaborative AI tools: Use AI to enhance collaboration among teams, such as AI-driven project management tools that help track progress and allocate resources effectively. This can foster a sense of teamwork and shared purpose.
6. Recognition programs: Create AI systems that recognize and reward employee achievements based on performance data. This can boost morale and show employees that their contributions are valued.
7. Customer interaction improvements: Showcase AI applications that enhance customer service, such as chatbots that provide quick responses. Employees can see how AI improves customer satisfaction, which can positively impact their roles.
8. Emotional intelligence in AI: Introduce AI tools that analyze employee emotions and well-being, allowing management to respond proactively to issues. This shows a commitment to employee welfare and can foster a supportive environment.
The adoption of AI within an organization can be enhanced by initiating small-scale pilot projects that showcase quick wins and celebrating these successes to build enthusiasm and confidence in the technology among employees. Additionally, leaders should maintain transparent communication by regularly sharing the goals and benefits of AI initiatives, addressing any concerns or misconceptions, and fostering open dialogue to mitigate fear and resistance.
In the second part of this article, we discuss the local AI landscape, how organizations can support human agency through AI, and the leadership imperative in keeping humans at the center.
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional advice where the facts and circumstances warrant. The views and opinions expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of SGV & Co.
Rossana A. Fajardo is the country managing partner of SGV & Co.