Having robots for colleagues in the near future will make Aussie businesses faster, smarter, and simpler.
And coffee rounds will be cheaper too.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is already a mainstay of the modern economy where the average Australian interacts with it more than 100 times a day.
This can range from more proactive interaction-chatting with virtual messenger bots or answering questions online-to things like finding digital maps or receiving targeting recommendations for in products and services.
But a new report finds that AI is increasingly becoming omnipresent and integrated into people’s lives, where those interactions happen hundreds of times a day-even in sleep.
While some may be afraid to take on robots, the rise of AI will lead to better work-life balance for employees and greater productivity and profitability for businesses, the report found.
“Although this may seem ironic, an emerging body of evidence and literature suggests that AI-driven experiences will allow people to become more human,” the AI expert and author of the report wrote. and Dr. Catriona Wallace.
“Technological advances will give employees and customers more time to focus on what they value, more freedom to choose where and how they work, and better tools for business and society to manage resources productively.
This will create shared value for individuals, who will be more engaged and fulfilled. Businesses will be more productive and profitable. They will also attract more loyal customers and employees.
“Society as a whole will benefit from more innovation and better management of resources.”
The AI -enabled ‘virtual colleague’ will be an integral part of business teams in 2030, helping to combat skills shortages, Dr Wallace said, adding AI represents a “golden opportunity for Australia”.
Digital workflow company ServiceNow, which partnered with Dr Wallace on his research, said COVID has changed the business approach to technology.
A post-pandemic Australia represents a completely changed digital landscape, they say.
“How organizations plan and respond to this digital gold rush will make or break their success in the future,” said ServiceNow Chief Innovation Officer Dave Wright.
“Executives need to take into account emerging attitudes and technological advances …
“Organizations must consider how systems, operations and people work in harmony or customer and employee experiences will suffer.
“Done right, it will deliver huge benefits to people, society and our economy.”
Dr Wallace’s report revealed four societal trends, including the emergence of ‘machine-mates’ (human-AI teams); the increase in hyper-personalization for both employees and consumers; the ethical considerations that will drive AI-adoption; and the notion of accepting diversity of opinions in the workplace.
In the near future, workers will be encouraged to prioritize self-care and ‘me-time’.
AI tools will be used to identify overworked people so that managers can divert work to avoid burn-out.
Australian Associated Press