Amidst rapid technological advancements, a significant portion of the British population expresses reservations about AI in HR.
- A recent SurveyMonkey study indicates that 54% of Britons are uneasy with artificial intelligence’s role in human resources.
- There is a notable lack of AI-related policies and training across UK companies, with 41% acknowledging the absence of such policies.
- Trust issues persist, as 39% of employees lack confidence in HR’s use of AI.
- Job security concerns are prominent, with nearly half of the workforce fearing AI’s impact on their employment.
In an era defined by technological evolution, many workers in the UK express unease regarding the integration of artificial intelligence in human resources. According to a study conducted by SurveyMonkey, 54% of British respondents conveyed discomfort with HR teams leveraging AI technology.
The research highlights a pressing issue: a substantial lack of formal AI training and explicit AI policies within UK enterprises. Nearly 41% of employees reported the absence of any AI-specific policies in their workplace, while a staggering 70% indicated they had received no form of AI training. This deficit in training spans across various age groups, with less than half of individuals aged 18-34 and only 29% of those aged 35-64 having received any AI training, formal or otherwise. Alarmingly, only 4% of those aged 65 and over have been exposed to AI training, even in informal settings such as video tutorials.
Trust in AI is another considerable concern among the workforce. Over a third, precisely 39%, of employees expressed skepticism about HR departments’ reliance on AI tools. This sentiment underscores the necessity for companies to build trust through transparent AI implementations and comprehensive training programs.
Moreover, the study reveals heightened concerns about job security associated with the rise of AI. Approximately 45% of participants expressed apprehension about AI threatening their job stability, a concern more pronounced among male employees, 53% of whom cited fears compared to 39% of their female counterparts.
Zoe Padgett, Senior Research Scientist at SurveyMonkey, emphasizes the widespread skepticism and the need for improved AI policies and training to mitigate concerns. She states, “During an era of rapid digitalisation and increased AI use in the workplace, is it clear that there is still wide-spread scepticism surrounding the technology. The fact our research showed that over half of Brits don’t feel comfortable with HR teams using AI highlights the need for more AI training and clearer AI policies (to address the issue of mistrust).”
The adoption of AI in HR remains a contentious issue, necessitating enhanced training and policy development to address prevailing concerns.
