Artificial Intelligence has crept from the pages of mid-century sci-fi stories into the very mainstream of American culture – especially in the workplace. For decades now, workers have speculated about how (and when) AI will affect their own job futures: Will automation replace the need for humans, or will the AI be used in ways that will actually aid humans in their jobs, increasing efficiency all around? We asked employees, “Do you think the benefits of Artificial Intelligence will outweigh the potential risks?”
The info comes from the latest reading of an ongoing study by Comparably. Over 1,000 employees responded to the question.
Men are considerably more confident that the benefits of AI will outweigh any potential risks than women are. The gulf between genders on this question, at 16%, is notable. Speculation here would be largely reckless, but it may be that men are generally more encouraged towards futurist notions than women in our society. Men, in charge of much of the nation’s industry, may be more interested in researching the eventual positive benefits of AI on their processes.
Among ethnicities, Asian/Pacific Islanders are the most assured that AI will bring about good things for society. That segment was nearly as positive as overall male scores above. Caucasians, Hispanic/Latinos, and respondents from the “other” designation were generally more positive than overall women – but African-Americans, who may feel disenfranchised in a overall fashion similar to females – are less convinced.
Workers in Engineering are the most optimistic about AI’s effects on their jobs and the future. This makes some sense, as employees in that department may have some level of hands-on experience with AI. IT also voted with confidence for AI. On the other end, workers in the Legal department were much less sure about AI’s benefits than nearly any other group queried. Other departments that depend on human interaction, like Sales and Customer Support, also seemed unsure about what benefits the technology would bring. They may also fear AI encroaching on their jobs.
There isn’t much notable variety among different age groups in terms of responses to this question about Artificial Intelligence. There is a notable spike in positivity about AI for the 46-50 age group – that segment may have been coming of age in the workplace just as AI was becoming a reality.
With education, fears about AI decrease. Those with Master’s Degrees are far more confident that AI will benefit society than those with just a high school degree. Again, this may amount to those holding more advanced degrees having a more assured sense that their jobs are not eventually going to be threatened by automation.
While men overall are more secure about the future of AI than women, in certain departments the opposite is true. In Business Development and Communications, women are more positive about AI’s influence.
Latest reading as of Feb. 22.
