Workplace culture in Australia is increasingly adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology

In a recently released report titled "Future Ready: Australians and AI Workplace Tech," the Tech Council of Australia (TCA) has shed light on the nation's attitudes towards artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technology. The report, conducted in collaboration with Datacom, Salesforce, and King River, presents the results of a survey of over 2500 Australian workers from a representative sample across the nation, fielded by Qualtrics.

According to the report, 84% of Australians in office jobs report that they use AI at work. This adoption of AI is not limited to a specific demographic, as younger respondents and male workers show the most optimism about AI and emerging technology. Across all age groups, workers are positive about improving their working life over the next 5-10 years.

However, the report also highlights concerns about adopting new technologies. Privacy, training, and being involved in future decision-making are the main concerns for Australians. Intriguingly, cost of living, inflation, healthcare, and housing are the top concerns of the Australian workforce, with the impact of emerging technologies ranking significantly lower.

The TCA CEO, Damian Kassabgi, stated that the report highlights a key opportunity for Australian organizations to accelerate AI adoption. Mr. Kassabgi called for fit-for-purpose, interoperable, and risk-based regulatory frameworks to facilitate domestic AI investment, talent, and innovation. He emphasized that accelerating AI adoption requires appropriate regulatory and legislative settings. The Australian Government's Department of Industry, Science and Resources is responsible for a fit-for-purpose, interoperable, and risk-based regulatory framework that supports appropriate investment in artificial intelligence in Australia, as outlined in the report.

Interestingly, 93% of Australian workers believe AI will impact jobs by augmenting them, not replacing them. This optimistic view is shared by 49% of workers who do not think government officials understand technology well enough to regulate it effectively.

The report concludes on a positive note, with 72% of Australian workers reporting that technology has had a positive or very positive impact on their lives over the past decade. This positive sentiment is echoed by Mr. Kassabgi, who stated that lifting productivity, strengthening economic resilience, and ensuring economic sustainability are underpinned by embracing technology.

For those interested in reading the full report, it can be found here.