Organizations Are Gearing Up for More Ethical and Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence, Finds Study - Seite 2

AI oversight is not optional

Despite popular messages suggesting AI operates independently of human intervention, the research shows that AI leaders recognize that oversight is not optional for these technologies. Nearly three-quarters (74 percent) of AI leaders reported careful oversight with at least weekly review or evaluation of outcomes (less successful AI adopters: 33 percent). Additionally, 43 percent of AI leaders shared that their organization has a process for augmenting or overriding results deemed questionable during review (less successful AI adopters: 28 percent).

Still, the report states that oversight processes have a long way to go before they catch up with advances in AI technology.

“The ability to understand how AI makes decisions builds trust and enables effective human oversight," said Yinyin Liu, head of data science for Intel AI Products Group. "For developers and customers deploying AI, algorithm transparency and accountability, as well as having AI systems signal that they are not human, will go a long way toward developing the trust needed for widespread adoption.”

It stands to reason that companies are taking steps toward ethical AI and ensuring AI oversight because they know that faulty AI output can cause repercussions. Of the organizations that have either already deployed AI or are planning to do so, 60 percent stated that they are concerned about the impact of AI-driven decisions on customer engagement – for example, that their actions will not show enough empathy or customers will trust them less.

Other key findings from the survey include:

• Overall, 72 percent of organizations globally are now using AI in one or more business areas.
• More than half (51 percent) of AI adopters indicated their deployment of AI has been a real success – citing more accurate forecasting and decision-making, higher success at acquiring customers, and increased organizational productivity as the primary benefits.
• Nearly half (46 percent) of AI adopters overall said their organization has fully deployed AI, either in one or multiple use cases.
• Respondents outside of the C-suite were more likely to see the impact of AI positively: More than half (55 percent) of non-C-level executives say their AI efforts have been “successful” or “very successful.” Only 38 percent of the C-suite reported the same.
• Many organizations see an advantage for their workforce by way of elevated roles. Sixty-four percent strongly or completely agree they are already seeing the effects, as employees focus on more strategic tasks rather than operative ones, thanks to AI.
• However, nearly 20 percent identify “resistance from employees due to concerns about job security” as a challenge to their AI efforts. Plus, 57 percent agree or strongly agree with the statement, “We are concerned about the impact of AI on employee relations (e.g., employees might feel threatened or overstrained.)”

“As with any new technology that’s quickly gaining traction, there will be challenges to overcome,” says Ross Gagnon, research director at Forbes Insights. “But the opportunities AI presents are seemingly endless, from operational efficiencies to increased productivity and revenue. The question executives should be asking themselves is not whether to deploy AI, but how quickly?”