75% of Australian employees fear the impact of AI

Three in four Australian employees are concerned about the impact of adopting AI at work, with half concerned that their organisation is implementing AI too soon, according to new research commissioned by Advertising Week APAC.

A survey conducted for the event by Cint found that while 50% of Australian managers believe more employees should use AI at work, only 20% of non-managers agree.

The survey found that 61% of Australian managers and 28% of non-managers have already used AI at work.

But managers are more likely than non-managers to fear that AI will harm their future career prospects (66% of managers compared to 54% of non-managers), or replace their jobs (60% of managers vs. 46% of non-managers).

Those with AI experience were more concerned about the potential impact of the technology, but were also more likely to advocate for its wider adoption in the workplace.

The survey also revealed significant generational gaps in the adoption of AI, with fewer than 50% of baby boomers having used AI compared to 90% of Generation Z. But Gen Z and millennials are also twice as likely to be concerned about the impact of AI on their future career prospects.

Adoption also varies by industry, with 97% of tech workers being familiar with AI tools, compared to 64% for the lowest ranked industry, the healthcare sector.

Advertising Week Global President Ruth Mortimer said the findings demonstrate shifting perceptions, familiarity and behaviour in people’s interactions with different AI platforms.

“It is clear from our data that across the world and in Australia in particular, we are fast approaching the tipping point of AI in our businesses and workplaces, so it’s now a crucial time for us to embrace the power of AI, particularly in the advertising and marketing industries,” she said.

“It’s important that companies take steps so their workforces feel the benefits of AI technologies far outweigh the substantive challenges.”

Image credit: iStock.com/useng