Stark disconnects between perceived AI skill and actual AI training could lead to ethical and security-related problems, a Sept. 25 report from Multiverse revealed — meaning employers may need to go back to the drawing board regarding learning and development.
On top of training concerns, leaders and workers also have vastly different perceptions of AI implementation in their organizations. Nearly two-thirds of leaders said AI is “fully implemented” across their organizations, while only 36% of workers agreed. Additionally, 60% of leaders say they are ahead of their competitors in AI maturity, while only 46% of workers agreed.
This perception gap extends to organizations more broadly. Multiverse classified organizations into three maturity types regarding AI:
- AI beginners, which are in the proof-of-concept phase and developing pilot programs
- AI explorers, which are in the early phase of integrating AI into business
- AI adepts, which have fully embedded AI throughout the organization
Notably, 45% of AI beginners as categorized by Multiverse said they consider AI fully implemented, “highlighting a significant perception gap,” the company said. And 56% of survey-takers who consider themselves “AI experts” have received no formal training, according to the survey.
“This overconfidence raises ethical and data-security questions,” the company noted.
“Organizations are rushing to implement AI without the necessary foundations in place,” Euan Blair, CEO and founder of Multiverse, said in a statement. “To build truly AI native businesses, where AI is baked into your organizational DNA and delivering maximum ROI, tech investments need to be combined with an AI-enabled workforce equipped with the skills and tools to leverage AI to its full potential, not only to realize the true value of the technology, but to proactively mitigate risk.”
Multiverse recommended employers develop standardized AI skills assessments and increase investment in AI training at all levels.
However, an April report from the World Employment Confederation indicated businesses are concerned AI training won’t keep up with continued advances in the technology even within the next three years. The development of AI may require companies to rethink skills and work entirely, the report said.
Additionally, employers may run into some barriers getting employees on board for training — especially certain demographic groups that have expressed reluctance to use the tech — according to a Cypher Learning survey. Trust may be a key issue, experts said.
