Workers conflicting views on AI laid bare in new KPMG study

According to a new KPMG study, over 40% of workers believe that AI will replace their area of work – yet the majority, 67%, feel optimistic about the benefits AI can bring to society.

Workers’ conflicting views on artificial intelligence have been laid bare in data crunched by Atlas VPN, based on a study carried out by The University of Queensland and KPMG Australia.

The global survey, Trust in Artificial Intelligence: A Global Study quizzed almost 20,000 respondents from 17 countries between September and October 2022 – a time period that notably came one month before the release of OpenAI’s ubiquitous generative AI ChatGPT.

Split into two halves, the study examined both people’s perceived impact of AI on work and their emotions associated with it, which perhaps explains workers’ mixed views on the technology.

Atlas VPN found that 42% of workers believe that AI will replace jobs in their area of work or perform key aspects of their work, automating tasks such as content and graphic design creation, analysing data and handling basic customer queries.

Despite these concerns, most respondents felt AI could bring positive changes and solutions to many problems.

About two-thirds (67%) of people feel optimistic about the benefits AI can bring to society. In addition, 60% of respondents express excitement about AI technology.

Yet the number of people who still see AI as a sinister force – as portrayed in multiple movies throughout the years – from Metropolis to M3gan ­- is still notable with 48% expressing worry  and 47% saying they felt fearful.

Drawing conclusions from the study cybersecurity analyst at Atlas VPN Vilius Kardelis said:

“As AI progresses, there is no denying that it will significantly impact the workforce. As we move forward, it will be crucial to strike a balance between innovation and ethical considerations to ensure that AI is used for the betterment of society.”