The Global Attitude Toward Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The global attitude toward artificial intelligence (AI) is mixed and widely dependent on geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic factors. While some are excited and optimistic, some are quite worried, stressed out, and skeptical. AI is not new, in fact, the term “artificial intelligence” was coined in 1956. Due to the increased data volumes, advanced algorithms, and improvements in computing power and storage, AI has become more popular today. The term ‘artificial intelligence’, or AI, is used to describe advanced computerized systems and machines that mimic the ‘cognitive’ functions of the human brain, such as learning, reasoning, and planning (Lu, Li, Chen, Kim, & Serikawa, 2018; Ludger, 2009). There is a vast ocean of data, generated by both humans and machines each day, every second, and thus to help humans absorb, interpret, and make complex decisions based on such data, artificial intelligence was invented. As often seen with new technology, there is heightened tension due to the perception that new technology will benefit only a small section of society, risking the lives of other widely distributed sections of society. However, some people see AI as a beneficial tool and a key driver of digital transformation across various industries that improve efficiency and provide new opportunities. Now let’s delve into the recent research globally that gives us clear insight into AI, its usage, and the attitude of people both positively and negatively. A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center concluded that 52% of Americans are more concerned rather than excited about AI, and around 36% feel a mix of both. The leading cause of apprehension could be possibly the fear of job loss. According to McKinsey & Company, the use of artificial intelligence in business operations has doubled since 2017. This is largely because AI technology can be customized to meet an organization’s unique needs. Around 63% of McKinsey’s respondents expect their investment in AI technologies to increase over the next three years. As per a survey by consulting firm Gartner, around 79 percent of corporate strategists agree that AI and analytics will be critical to their organization’s success over the next two years. In a survey conducted by PwC, they found that 73 percent of U.S. companies have already adopted AI in some aspect of their business—putting others who haven’t started experimenting at a disadvantage. According to Lawler & Elliot (1996); and Strohmeier & Piazza (2015) the human resource management function of an organization has an important role to play in effectively incorporating AI at work. Integrating the processes of human resource management along with artificial intelligence can generate additional benefits for an organization (Minbaeva, 2020), such as improved managerial decisions (Liboni, Cezarino, Jabbour, Oliveira, & Stefanelli, 2019), faster and more effective employee recruitment processes (Reilly, 2018), better learning at work (Hamilton & Sodeman, 2020), employee engagement (Tripathi, Ranjan, & Pandeya, 2012), and employee retention (Samarasinghe & Medis, 2020). A survey by Ipsos for the World Economic Forum has found that 60% of adults worldwide expect that products and services using AI will profoundly change their daily lives in the next 3-5 years.

Key areas where AI has a wide range of applications across industries:

1. Healthcare: AI has wide applications in the healthcare industry for example in early detection and accurate diagnosis, personalized treatment, robotic surgeries, better efficiency in clinical and administrative tasks, drug discovery, etc.
2. Finance: In finance, AI can help in detecting real-time fraud, accuracy in credit scoring and risk evaluation, customer services (chatbots), data-driven trading decisions, etc.
3. Retail and e-commerce: Personalized shopping and recommendations, 24/7 AI customer support, inventory management, efficient supply chain, demand forecasting, etc.
4. Manufacturing: AI in manufacturing can help in quality control, and reduce downtime with predictive maintenance, robotics used in assembly lines and dangerous tasks ensures safety, maintaining high quality, and cost saving.
5. Education: In education, AI can be used to give students a personalized learning experience based on individual student needs, better accessibility in remote or underserved areas through virtual classrooms, automated grading systems, greater scalability, and intelligent tutoring systems.
6. Customer service: AI 24/7 customer service Chatbots to manage a large volume of customer requests, virtual assistants, faster response time, reduced operational cost, etc.
7. Security and Surveillance: Enhanced cybersecurity protocols, facial recognition, improved law enforcement through predictive analytics, and threat detection through continuous monitoring and analysis of large datasets.

The above areas are just a few to name, there are other fields like agriculture, transportation, entertainment, sports analytics and activities, fashion, etc., where AI can be used.

 Disadvantages of AI

• One of the biggest fears related to AI is job displacement. Automation of tasks can lead to job losses in certain industries.
• Implementation of AI systems, for smaller businesses and developing region will be a costly affair.
• Issues related to data privacy, surveillance, and control could raise ethical concerns. AI can lead to unfair decisions due to inherent biases from training data.
• AI lacks creativity and out-of-the-box thinking skills. It knows what it knows and can’t create original thoughts. In simple words, it is limited by what it can ingest.
• AI can’t convey the true essence of human empathy; it can be taught to recognize human emotions, but AI can never feel any emotion and thus can’t empathize like humans. Some roles need empathy and touchpoints, which AI can’t deliver.
• Possible overreliance on technology leads to skill loss in humans. Learning a skill and mastering it makes you an expert in your field but AI stymies human ability to truly master a skill or profession. It will only increase laziness in humans.
• Some known experts like Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking have raised concerns that AI has the potential to become super intelligent which can pose an existential risk or threat to humanity.

How to overcome the fear of AI?

• Educate yourself about the nature, potential, and limitations of AI. The more you know and learn, the less will be the fear, misunderstandings, and stress associated with AI.
• Interact and engage with AI. Try to get familiar with the technology on a daily basis. Taking baby steps will help you to adapt and get comfortable with the new technology. Positive experience with technology helps in reducing anxiety.
• Know the real facts for a more balanced view about AI. Mark a line between fiction and reality.
• To prevent misuse and harmful usage, learning about the ethical AI framework, regulations, and laws is critical to understand and follow best practices to provide reassurance that you are using AI sensibly. Try reading credible sources that offer in-depth, nuanced perspectives.
• Engage more and more in discussions revolving around AI. Hearing informed, knowledgeable expert’s points of view or perspectives will give you a 360-degree overview of the possible advantages or disadvantages of AI and its impact globally. Hopefully, it might reduce your fears and increase confidence in AI.

How ‘Aidosol’ is using technology?

At Aidosol, we are trying our best to strike a balance between automation and human judgment, ensuring the ethical and sensible use of AI. We promise new possibilities for human society considering AI.  Taking into account a significant amount of legal and ethical caution and concern, we want people to be excited and curious about our product and services rather than fearful and apprehensive about its usage. Let’s collaborate to transform our businesses across multiple domains to reshape industries and society.