New research from 3M finds that despite all the hype surrounding artificial intelligence (AI), the vast majority of employees don’t use AI often, with just 4% using it daily.
Most people have tried it: 84% of us have used AI, but only 27% say we use it “a few times a month” and another 24% use AI only once a month or less.
The consensus around AI seems hopeful, but evidence suggests the technology isn’t there yet. While 77% of people believe AI will transform our world, studies show most people don’t trust it and less likely to participate with products that use the technology.
Untapped potential
Nearly half of us (48%) believe that implementing AI will lead to faster analysis and data processing, while 40% believe that AI will take over simple tasks and give employees more time to focus on other tasks.
Most believe AI will play a major role in the future. 61% expect AI to perform 50% of their jobs in the next 10 years. However, 80% of UK adults believe AI should be heavily regulated.
There is a significant gap between the expected potential of AI and its current capabilities, leaving most companies feeling unprepared and under-equipped to implement the technology.
Global Digital Automation & Innovation Senior Manager at 3M, Paul Cardno confirms: “If we are to unlock this in everyday life, we need to remove the fear that AI will replace jobs. Instead, we need to reassure employees that AI will work with them to help productivity in everyday tasks, while providing thorough training so they feel confident, rather than fearful, with new AI tools.”
While AI adoption seems inevitable, the vast majority (80%) of projects fail, largely due to a disconnect between expectations and the technology’s capabilities. Research shows that over-enthusiasm has led to a tendency to overestimate its potential and use AI as a one-size-fits-all solution to problems it can’t solve.