Younger professionals within organizations are the most positive about the use of artificial intelligence. However, they are the least likely to consider ethical principles when using AI, according to research conducted by IT and business transformation service provider Conclusion among more than five hundred AI managers in medium-sized and large organizations.
Nearly half of professionals under 35 say they don't think about ethical considerations when using AI. By comparison, that percentage is 35 percent among 35- to 55-year-olds, and 24 percent among those over 55. At the same time, the youngest group is also the most concerned about the impact of AI on their jobs. 48 percent of them fear losing their jobs due to the rise of AI, compared to 39 percent in the oldest group.
Although there is considerable enthusiasm for artificial intelligence applications, organizations remain cautious. For example, only 42 percent consider AI decisions more reliable than human judgments, and 30 percent say they would never start using AI without a prior risk assessment. Yet, it also appears that many organizations still pay little attention to the social impact of their applications. Only 25 percent actively consider this factor. According to Conclusion, the results show that ethics in AI policy is often still lacking. This is striking, given that the European AI law obligates organizations to use AI responsibly. Furthermore, 51 percent of respondents support stricter regulation, while 44 percent believe that AI can never be fully ethical, regardless of the rules established.
“Younger professionals are more likely to embrace new AI applications, but pay less attention to ethical aspects and regulations,” Tomas van den Nieuwendijk, Director of Conclusion AI 360, summarized the study. “Older employees are more cautious, but are better able to navigate the complex landscape of laws and regulations. This requires an intelligent approach, in which organizations combine the different strengths of generations. Younger employees can, for example, act as innovation ambassadors, while older professionals contribute valuable experience in risk management and governance.”