While some hail AI as a tool to fight climate change, increase efficiency and boost productivity, others are not so optimistic. Surveys show that people are concerned about AI’s unrestrained and unregulated growth, its impact on employment, and its misuse.
Indeed, with AI experts Geoffrey Hinton, Mo Gawdat and Sam Altman warning that AI is an existential threat, dismissing those concerns as the paranoid mutterings of doomers would be the height of hubris.
The MENA region is forecast to have the world’s fastest growth rate of AI spending over the next four years, and businesses are now readily adopting it in the workplace.
When it comes to hesitancy regarding AI, workers in the Middle East are bucking the trend, with research finding a greater acceptance than elsewhere in the world.
But to what extent will AI adoption reshape the workplace, and how do businesses ensure its development is responsibly and ethically managed?
Bucking global trends in the Middle East
Globally, research indicates that people are split when it comes to the development of AI and its rapid integration into our day-to-day lives.
A recent Ipsos Global Advisor survey, which brought together responses from across 31 countries, found that 54 per cent feel excited about AI, while 52 per cent feel nervous about products and services that use AI.
Of course, a big part of this nervousness is related to AI’s potential impact on the job landscape.
Indeed, with AI’s rapidly evolving capabilities, it’s no wonder that for a long time, people have been concerned that artificial intelligence will “eliminate more jobs than it creates.“
And these fears are not unfounded. A report from the World Economic Forum earlier this year shared figures predicting that 83 million jobs will be lost and only 69 million jobs created – a net decrease of 14 million jobs.
Of course, we’ve also seen the headlines circulating about big names making big job cuts as a result of AI.
However, looking through a more regional lens, the data shows that employees in the Middle East are some of the “least worried” in the world about the kind of impact generative AI could have on their jobs.
Boston Consulting Group found that only one in four employees expressed that they’re worried about the potential impacts on their workplaces.
Further to this, PwC research earlier this year found that the region perceived AI in the workplace as far more positive, with a favourable view expressed by:
- 43% of respondents in Egypt,
- 41% of respondents in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and
- 39% of respondents in the UAE.
Workplaces prioritise AI
Alongside employees’ favourable perceptions of AI integration in the workplace, a study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and MIT Sloan Management Review found that 84 per cent of organisations in the Middle East now consider AI a “top priority.”
Indeed, on top of this, Coursera, in partnership with YouGov, found that specifically, in the UAE, 85 per cent of businesses believe Generative AI will reshape their business offerings in the next three years, and 91 per cent consider it “crucial” for business growth.
As a result, a whopping 83 per cent of UAE businesses shared readiness to integrate generative AI into their operations, while 82 per cent have already implemented it for their existing offerings.
This aligns with data from Gartner, which polled over 1,400 executive leaders and found that 45% are in piloting mode with generative AI, and another 10% have put generative AI solutions into production. This is up from 15% and 4%, respectively, in its previous poll conducted in March and April 2023.
Seventy-eight also now believe that the benefits outweigh the risks, and 55% of organisations have increased their investment in generative AI since it came into the public domain ten months ago.
So, why has there been such a surge in adoption? According to Bain & Company, results and productivity gains. Its research found that 75 per cent of the more than 570 executives it recently surveyed said AI has “already met” or “exceeded” expectations.
Further, when looking ahead, GCC countries are projected to see around $23.5 billion in economic benefits by 2030 through investments in generative AI, according to PwC unit Strategy& Middle East.
RAI & ensuring an ethical approach
Of course, when there’s such promise of productivity and progress, it’s easy to get swept up.
After all, you have some consulting firms warning that companies that adopt a “wait and see” approach are “at risk of being left behind,” and forecasts that “early movers will have a “sustained advantage” that won’t level off.
Indeed, in the hubbub of it all, research shows that many companies are powering forward full steam ahead, without considering the risks and regulations.
Bias, privacy and transparency, for example, are all key considerations when operating AI, and a lack of action on these priority areas could result in disaster.
This has already been demonstrated by a number of high-profile scandals related to bias in AI tools across the world.
Yet, BCG and MIT Sloan Management Review found that currently, around 75 per cent of Middle Eastern organisations are lagging on Responsible AI (RAI), for example.
RAI programs essentially provide a framework to ensure AI is a force for good. That means considering potential harms and benefits and prioritising ethical approaches and principles such as accountability, transparency, fairness and safety.
A component of this is ensuring AI serves to supplement human work rather than replace it.
Not only is Responsible AI vital to ensure the world doesn’t descend into some dystopian nightmare, but according to BCG and MIT SMR, it also makes business sense.
Their research found that RAI resulted in better products/services (43%), brand differentiation (27%), increased customer retention (43%), improved long-term profitability (30%), accelerated innovation (41%), and improved recruiting and retention (16%).
However, right now, companies are yet to bridge the RAI gap.
The same goes for AI regulation preparedness. Research has shown that only 38% of organisations feel “adequately prepared” for AI regulations – but while slow to catch up, regulation is coming.
There’s seemingly no stopping AI, but businesses should act now to ensure that its implementation in the workplace is accompanied by robust frameworks to ensure its integration is measured, ethically sound, and sustainable.