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Skilled AI talent is still in high demand, but some Aussie companies expect AI to boost their business – and workforce.
A new report from IT consultancy firm Avanade suggests that Australians are embracing artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace faster than any other country.
Avanade’s AI Readiness Report polled 3,000 IT leaders from around the globe and found that, on average, 57 per cent of workplaces make daily use of AI.
However, Australian organisations are moving much faster – an impressive 76 per cent of Australian organisations are already making daily use of AI in the workplace.
And it’s not just business owners that are feeling the AI hype. According to Avanade, 96 per cent of employees are just as excited about AI. Similarly, Australian workers have the highest confidence that their bosses and other leaders understand the impacts of AI and the importance of proper governance. Sixty-seven per cent of workers feel their bosses are on the right track.
Nearly half of Australian business leaders also expect that AI will lead to expanding workforces, with headcounts expected to rise by 9 per cent to meet the AI challenge.
“The signal from our Avanade AI Readiness Report is clear – AI will continue to be integrated into our everyday lives, reimagining the way we work, collaborate and create,” said Lourens Swanepoel, data and AI lead for Avanade Australia, in a statement.
“Australia has always been an early adopter of emerging technology, and it is encouraging to see that Australian organisations are ready to embrace AI to augment their work. However, to fully reap the true potential of AI, businesses will need to ensure that the workforce is equipped with the skills and knowledge to effectively collaborate with AI systems in a responsible manner.”
But it’s not entirely positive news. Seventy per cent of those polled feel that new skills will be needed to take advantage of the AI revolution.
Another challenge is adopting AI fast enough. Ninety-six per cent of those polled feel that an AI-first policy is required to remain competitive and that it should be put in place in the next 12 months or risk falling behind in the marketplace.
“While businesses and IT executives are enthusiastic about driving business value with AI, the findings also reflect the increasing interest and curiosity we are witnessing from leaders and their people globally,” said Florin Rotar, Avanade’s chief AI officer.
“Not only do businesses need to take action to ready their people with the essential skills needed to utilise AI effectively, but now is the time for leaders to prepare for an AI-first future by crafting well-defined and responsible strategies.”
You can read the full report here.
David Hollingworth has been writing about technology for over 20 years, and has worked for a range of print and online titles in his career. He is enjoying getting to grips with cyber security, especially when it lets him talk about Lego.
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