People's AI Anxiety Will Fade with Use
By Anthony Burr | TH3FUS3 Managing Editor
July 31, 2024 05:35 AM
Reading time: 2 minutes, 12 seconds
TL;DR Job security and ethical concerns continue to shadow artificial intelligence. People's fears of technology drop significantly once they use it. Exposure and understanding are key to alleviating 'AI anxiety.'
Job security and ethical concerns continue to shadow artificial intelligence. However, according to Svetlana Sicular, a senior analyst at technological research and consulting firm Gartner, these fears drop significantly once people use the technology.
Addressing AI Anxiety at Sydney Summit
Speaking at Tuesday's Gartner Data & Analytics Summit in Sydney, Sicular addressed the ongoing 'AI anxiety.' She noted that more than half of people are worried about its impact on jobs.
'Once people are actually exposed to AI and asked to use it, their concern about job loss drops significantly—from around 60% to just 14%,' Sicular said. The problem boils down to a lack of exposure and understanding.'
Media Portrayals and Misconceptions
Sicular pointed out that media portrayals and misconceptions fuel much of this fear. 'Most people still don't understand what AI entails. They see it as a science fiction concept or through the lens of sensationalist media stories,' she said. The truth is that AI is complex, and its ethical and technical nuances are not widely understood.'
Greater Exposure as a Solution
Sicular believes the key to reducing these concerns is greater exposure to AI rather than regulation. She cited an early example from Germany's Bundesliga football league. Initially, players resisted using wearable devices for data capture and AI-supported performance monitoring. 'Ultimately, they found it useful, but it wasn't immediate,' Sicular said.
Adjusting expectations about what AI can deliver is also critical to easing those concerns. 'Understanding that AI is non-deterministic is going to be critical in helping to set expectations and address concerns,' Sicular said. For example, people need to understand that achieving 100% accuracy with AI is not realistic.
'AI anxiety will fade not because AI's impact is less, but because people will become comfortable with this new technological interaction.'
There is some reluctance to trust AI due to its potential for errors. Instead, she added that the public should view it as a tool for enhancing efficiency rather than striving for perfection.
A Collaborative Tool, Not a Replacement
The Gartner executive said that as people use AI and understand its limitations, they begin to see it as a collaborative tool rather than a job replacement.
While older generations may struggle with this shift, Sicular compared it to the adoption of computers and the Internet. 'A new generation is emerging with a 'good enough' mentality, viewing the world probabilistically rather than seeking perfect answers.
This shift might be uncomfortable for some - older people have grown up learning mantras like 'close enough isn't good enough.' Still, the shift is part of the broader evolution in our approach to technology,' Sicular said.