TALKING

Steven Mills , Chief AI Ethics Officer , BCG

“ Upskilling is essential and must be done continuously . It should go beyond learning how to use the technology and allow employees to adapt in their role as activities and skill requirements evolve .”

Despite their concerns , 71 % of respondents believe the rewards of GenAI outweigh the risks . However , they also want the risks to be managed – 79 % of all respondents believe that AI-specific regulations are necessary , representing a marked shift in attitudes toward government oversight of technology .

Rather than waiting for government regulation to be enacted , many companies are developing and deploying their own responsible AI frameworks to manage this powerful emerging technology in a way that aligns with organisational purpose and ethical values .

Employee views on the effectiveness of these programmes vary widely . While 68 % of leaders feel confident about their organisation ’ s responsible use of AI , a mere 29 % of frontline employees believe their companies have implemented adequate measures to ensure AI is used responsibly .

Employees are ready to accept AI in the workplace , but only if they are comfortable that their employer is committed to doing the right thing .

The report outlines three key recommendations for leaders as they navigate their organisation through the AI revolution :

• Ensure that there are spaces for responsible AI experimentation . Comfort levels with technology play a key role , and the more regularly employees use AI and GenAI , the more they recognise its benefits – as well as its limitations and risks .

• Invest in regular upskilling . Given the pace at which technology is evolving , organisations cannot treat upskilling as a one-off effort . They need to invest in training to help employees prepare for changes in their work and help them succeed in their evolving roles .

• Prioritise building a responsible AI programme : Employees want guidance and reassurance that their organisations are approaching AI and GenAI ethically , and leaders want to be able to help frame emerging AI regulations .

“ The level of concern among employees about the responsible use of AI is striking ,” said Steven Mills , Chief AI Ethics Officer at BCG and co-author of the report .

“ Generative AI burst on the scene so abruptly in 2022 that many companies are still playing catch up , however responsible AI should be a priority for all leaders . Companies won ’ t achieve the full potential of GenAI if the majority of their employees continue to doubt their employer is using AI responsibly . Responsible AI doesn ’ t just mitigate risk , it can also increase innovation and productivity , and generate value and competitive advantage for organisations .” p

32 INTELLIGENTCIO AFRICA www . intelligentcio . com