fbpx
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsHumans will Welcome Rise of Their AI ‘Co-Workers’, say UK Executives

Humans will Welcome Rise of Their AI ‘Co-Workers’, say UK Executives

Intelligent machines projected to help workers have better, more fulfilling jobs

Humans will Welcome Rise of Their AI ‘Co-Workers’, say UK Executives

Businesses do not fear the emergence of AI robotic ‘co-workers,’ according to a new global study released by Pegasystems Inc. the software company empowering customer engagement at the world’s leading enterprises. The study surveyed 396 senior executives working across key sectors of industry, including Financial Services, Insurance, Manufacturing, Telecoms & Media, Public Sector, and Retail, to source their views on the increased role artificial intelligence (AI) and automation will play in the workplace of the future.

A majority of respondents – 86 percent – were comfortable with the introduction of machine ‘co-workers’ into the workplace. Indeed, more than two thirds (67 percent) said in the future they expected the term ‘workforce’ to cover both intelligent machines and their human colleagues. The expectation that AI will replace human workers in adminstrative roles is high – with 70 percent expecting this will happen within 20 years. However, 69 percent said the automation of previously manual processes will enable those in such jobs to be diverted into other areas of the business instead of losing their jobs altogether.

On whether they would like to be managed by AI themselves, UK managers do show some initial resistance. More than four out of five (84 percent) respondents said they would not be comfortable with an intelligent machine managing them. However, 65 percent said they would be more comfortable with this prospect if there was complete transparency and auditability as to how the bot reached its management decisions.

According to UK business leaders, greater use of AI will create much better working conditions for human workers. For example, 59 percent expect that the automation of previously manual processes will make a significant difference in enabling staff to take on more varied, rewarding roles. This could be particularly true of customer-facing employees who, respondents suggested, may find that smart machines will make day to day work less mundane and frustrating and give them more responsibility. Seventy-three percent agree that AI will will allow workers to make more informed decisions at a more junior level.

Humans will continue to have an important role to play in jobs requiring emotional intelligence, judgement, and cultural understanding. Only 38 percent expect AI to replace human workers in customer-facing roles in 20 years time, while 74 percent think it will become standard practice for AI to be used to suggest next-best-actions to customer service agents within the next five years.

Hernaldo Turrillo
Hernaldo Turrillo is a writer and author specialised in innovation, AI, DLT, SMEs, trading, investing and new trends in technology and business. He has been working for ztudium group since 2017. He is the editor of openbusinesscouncil.org, tradersdna.com, hedgethink.com, and writes regularly for intelligenthq.com, socialmediacouncil.eu. Hernaldo was born in Spain and finally settled in London, United Kingdom, after a few years of personal growth. Hernaldo finished his Journalism bachelor degree in the University of Seville, Spain, and began working as reporter in the newspaper, Europa Sur, writing about Politics and Society. He also worked as community manager and marketing advisor in Los Barrios, Spain. Innovation, technology, politics and economy are his main interests, with special focus on new trends and ethical projects. He enjoys finding himself getting lost in words, explaining what he understands from the world and helping others. Besides a journalist, he is also a thinker and proactive in digital transformation strategies. Knowledge and ideas have no limits.
RELATED ARTICLES

Most Popular