Australians still uncertain about Artificial Intelligence benefits according to AI Ethics report

Women are more likely than men to view Artificial Intelligence (AI) as being unethical, with around 40 per cent of Australians feeling uncertain about its benefits according to a new report.

The findings have been revealed in a supplementary report to the Governance Institute of Australia’s 2024 Ethics Index, an independent survey of 1000 Australians conducted by Ipsos.

The survey found only 22 per cent of respondents use AI regularly or daily, and that positive ethical perceptions increased with higher levels of engagement and experience.

Megan Motto, CEO of the Governance Institute of Australia said the findings highlight significant opportunities for organisations to increase interactions with AI through education and transparency.

“By addressing concerns and providing clear, accessible information, organisations can help society fully realise the benefits of AI,” Ms Motto said.

“The survey results demonstrate that increasing transparency around AI, providing greater clarity around human involvement and providing opportunities for people to question AI-generated decisions will be beneficial.”

Ms Motto said adopting the business practices outlined in the Voluntary AI Safety Standard will likely enhance the ethical perceptions around an organisation’s AI use.

“By adhering to the guidelines, organisations can build greater trust with the public, ensuring that AI technologies are used responsibly and ethically.”

Key Findings in 2024 Ethics Index AI Supplementary Report:

• Women are more likely to perceive AI as being unethical (-25) compared to men (-6).
• The main issues for those most concerned about AI are misuse and replacement of jobs.
• 52 per cent of Australians said they rarely or never use AI, while 27 per cent said they use it occasionally
• 69 per cent said they would feel organisations were more ethical if they disclosed the use of AI in customer facing tools and services
• Under 35’s are more likely to think that AI is Very/Somewhat Ethical compared with their older counterparts, resulting in a stronger ethics score amongst the younger audience.

“This report underscores the critical need for targeted education and engagement strategies by organisations to bridge the knowledge gap surrounding AI and foster more assured and positive perceptions,” Ms Motto said.

Concerns about cyber security and AI were among the top ethical considerations for Australians heading into next year according to the 2024 Ethics Index, with Artificial Intelligence seen as the least ethical future development.