A recent survey conducted by Pew Research Center finds that many Americans fear AI, or artificial intelligence, and are concerned about its in hiring and evaluating workers.
The survey has revealed that many Americans believe artificial intelligence can make hiring more efficient and unbiased. However, there is wide unease about accuracy and privacy with the use of AI.
AI’s Impact on Hiring and Evaluation
According to the survey, 62% of respondents believe using AI in the workplace will significantly affect workers in the next 20 years. However, 28% of respondents think using the technology will dramatically affect them personally. Notably, 15% of them believe that “AI would hurt more than help.”
Regarding the potential impact of AI on workers, roughly one-third of Americans are split. Some 32% believe that the benefits and harms will be equally distributed. Meanwhile, 22% of respondents are still mulling how AI will affect workers in the long run. This suggests that there is some optimism about the potential benefits of AI. But also uncertainty about its impact on the workforce in the long run.
Adoption and privacy have taken the stage as 2023 emerge as the year of generative AI like ChatGPT. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, stated that “AI will make jobs kind of pointless” in 2019. After voicing reservations about the burgeoning technology, the executive is now apparently developing an artificial intelligence chatbot named “TruthGPT” to compete with ChatGPT and Bard.
Regarding the use of AI in employee-related decisions, Americans tend to be more opposed than favorable in the Pew Research Center survey. Specifically, 55% of adults reject the idea of employers utilizing AI analysis of worker performance to decide whether to fire someone, while only 14% support it. Additionally, 47% of adults are against using AI analysis to determine whether an employee should be promoted, while 22% support it.
That said, with regard to AI tracking workers’ movements and behaviors, Americans are more opposed than supportive. The survey stated that a majority (38%) oppose using the tech to track workers’ movements and time at their desks and monitor their computer activities.
Americans Fear AI in Job Security
In a recent study conducted in India, researchers used AI to evaluate recordings of about 630 people. A total of 111 participants with cold or flu were included in the study. According to reports, the technology could tell if someone is unwell by the vocal patterns in human speech. This might create a new standard for the workplace.
Meanwhile, a large percentage of US adults even state that they would not be interested in applying for a job with an employer who uses AI to aid in hiring decisions.
In fact, 66% said they would not want to apply for a job if that were the case. Most Americans do not support using AI in final hiring decisions, with 71% rejecting the idea. Similarly, a plurality of 41% opposes using AI in reviewing job applications. These findings show that people are uncomfortable with computer programs having the final say in decision-making.
The findings of the survey reveal the possible advantages and difficulties that come with the use of AI in hiring. Over half of those (53%) who see racial and ethnic prejudice in hiring as a problem believe that using AI by employers in hiring will reduce bias and unfair treatment. Meanwhile, only 13% think it will exacerbate the problem. About a third of the respondents believe the issue will remain the same.
Addressing these worries and ensuring that any technology is implemented ethically is critical. This is while it develops and becomes increasingly integrated into the workplace. Especially when it will impact certain industries more than others.
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