Australians Rate AI Applications based on Trust, Friendliness, and Diversity

The emerging trends related to AI in Australia reveal the nation’s persistence in commercializing AI applications for better growth and prosperity. Australia is one of the fastest-growing AI innovation centers in the world. The rise of generative AI has proved to be a watershed moment in the evolution of AI and machine learning research in Australia. Today, Australia’s AI software and academic market is worth nearly $5 billion. By 2030, AI-based digital innovations could add around $315 billion to Australia’s national GDP. By 2025, Australia could be spending $3.6 billion on its AI systems, bringing cutting-edge technologies to manufacturing, banking and finance, education, healthcare, media, and mobility. However, the citizens see AI technology differently. The current generation is embracing AI with “cautious optimism,” as per the latest research.

According to a survey of 1,000 adult Australian citizens, commissioned by UserTesting, only 38% would ever trust AI with finances, 33% with driving, and 30% with health-related searches. The same survey found that 24% of Aussies agree about sharing their personal and financial data for savings. However, 74% of AI users also fear for their privacy while interacting with AI tools and platforms. Clearly, user sentiments vary when it comes to using and embracing AI more openly in everyday lives in Australia.

Currently, the research on AI in Australia is hugely dependent on collaborations with China, the US, the UK, India, and Iran. UserTesting’s survey points to Australian consumer attitudes and experiences that could be evaluated based on their interactions, user-friendliness, trust and privacy, and time management. For instance, the report mentioned that an average Aussie thinks that AI could save them nearly an hour (57 minutes per day) in their daily lives. For most Aussies, AI is a great time-saver, and therefore, there is a growing awareness of AI’s capabilities that improve the quality and depth of life.

From a business point of view, 68% of Australian companies have AI systems in place, and another 23% plan to do so in 2024. 1 in 5 Aussies already understands the different AI capabilities meant for use in customer service, search phrase generation, recommendation, video game development, content creation, and so much more. Despite its popularity, AI has its own set of detractors, who harbor reservations against its limitless potential. While 28% confide in AI’s use in business and domestic lives, 36% have reservations. Most Aussies view AI with a sense of caution, showing a vigilant stance when it comes to important personal decisions in finance, driving, and medical cases.

Smartphone usage for AI applications is a booming landscape in Australia. 74% of respondents use AI on their phones, while others access AI or related technologies through their smart TVs and desktops. A majority of Aussies choose AI for simple tasks involving email management and shopping experiences. As time progresses, AI could become a mainstay in the personal and professional lives of every Aussie family.

Trust, and User-friendliness

Aussies and AI have a very nuanced relationship at the moment. The survey has captured the trust quotient among Aussies with AI. This trustworthiness is based on how well Aussies actually understand the science behind AI and machine learning. 20% of Aussies say they know AI very well, and they can differentiate between voice assistants, chatbots, and gaming tools. 41% of Aussies mention they have a moderate familiarity with AI applications. But, there is a substantial percentage of AI users who are either unsure or unsatisfied with AI’s role in their lives.

That’s where the grey area in AI lies — Trust, especially in critical aspects.

Nefarious activities involving the use of AI in deep fakes, ransomware, phishing, and financial frauds have dented public trust. Safety policies regarding trustworthy and responsible AI governance require collaboration between technology innovation companies, the government, and the users. For shopping, AI-powered platforms are considered intrusive. Personalized programmatic ads running on AI models overwhelm shoppers. Most shoppers think AI is breaching their privacy for data misuse and identity theft. Similar reservations could be identified with AI-powered targeted content promotion for healthcare and personalized medical solutions shown to patients. All these could limit the potential of AI tools while companies fail to build trust and governance for their AI models.

Conclusion

For AI to succeed in the Australian landscape, companies should put their AI ethics policy into practice. This could be done by integrating technology with human, environmental, and social values, applied with fairness and transparency. The latest survey just shows that there is a lot of scope in improving the current AI applications for the general Aussie families.

[To share your insights with us, please write to sghosh@martechseries.com]

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