Just 1 in 5 have developed policies around AI at work: survey
Australian businesses are being warned about losing their competitiveness as a new report revealed they are lagging in terms of implementing AI at work.
PERSOLKELLY Australia revealed that only 35% of businesses are utilising AI, while 33% are not using them or have no plans on doing so, IT Brief Australia reported.
The findings indicate that Australia is behind its neighbours in the Asia-Pacific region, which has a 43% utilisation rate for AI.
Amid the low uptake of AI at work, it's no surprise that only 18% of organisations that have embraced AI have developed policies around it. Some 21% of the respondents said it would likely take a year.
One-third (38%) of these businesses, however, confessed that they have no plans to establish formal policies addressing AI at work.
"While Australia boasts a robust business environment, its slower uptake of AI practices and policies in the workplace could hinder its long-term competitiveness globally," said Kurt Gillam, Executive General Manager at PERSOLKELLY Australia, in a statement quoted by IT Brief.
"In order to stay ahead of the curve and continue to be a leading nation when it comes to business large and small, Australian businesses need to embrace AI and seize the opportunities and benefits this technology presents."
Job displacement from AI
Meanwhile, the report revealed that Australia business leaders will be looking after their workforce as AI gets more widespread.
Nearly half of business leaders (44%) said they plan on being transparent about AI's potential to impact job roles.
Ahead of AI's further impact, 52% of business leaders said they are putting more premium on the implementation of upskilling programmes. Some skills that leaders said the workforce needs to develop include:
- Critical thinking (45%)
- Digital literacy (36%)
- Creativity (36%)
- Adaptability (35%)
The findings come amid concerns that AI will replace jobs, as international studies show that millions of employees would be vulnerable to the technology.
Experts, however, have assured that AI won't likely take away jobs, only make them better.
