Nearly 90% Thais passing off AI work as their own: study
Thai white-collar workers must be educated about ethics and morality when using generative AI to increase productivity, according to a recent study that found nearly 90% of those who had used generative AI had claimed AI's work as their own.
The findings were part of YouGov's Generative AI research in Thailand, which was commissioned by US software firm Salesforce.
The objective of this study was to uncover Thai workers' attitudes and perceptions of generative artificial intelligence (AI) at work, including productivity, ethics and safety, promotion and advancement, and employee attraction and retention.
It was conducted online from July 26 to August 3, 2023. The sample included 1,049 Thai adults aged 18 and above who work full-time in an office with at least one other employee.
Rabos Suvanamas, Salesforce Thailand Solutions Lead, said in the report released on Wednesday that while Thai workers widely use generative AI in their work, many companies still struggle and are reluctant to allow their employees to use this technology.
He pointed out that one of the most significant barriers to using generative AI in the workplace is the technology's ability to learn without limitations. This procedure is regarded as a potential source of data leakage for the company.
However, as the employees have already learned how to use generative AI to support and improve their productivity, the company cannot prevent their employees from using this AI tool.
According to the study, 77% of Thai workers believe their company lacks clearly defined policies on how generative AI can be used for work. As a result, Thai workers are employing generative AI in questionable ways.
Meanwhile, the majority of Thai workers were unable to identify all actions associated with using AI ethically or safely. About 84% of those who use and experiment with generative AI at work have used it to complete a work task and present it as their own work, with 67% doing so multiple times.
Furthermore, nearly two-thirds of those who use and experiment with generative AI at work admit to using a generative AI platform that their employer has prohibited them from using.
"Thai workers see the benefits of generative AI, particularly in terms of productivity gains and career advancement opportunities. However, many people are using generative AI at work despite having a poor understanding of AI ethics and safety, which leads to questionable usage," Rabos said.
Over 1,000 Thai workers were involved in the study, and nearly all of them were already using and experimenting with AI. They accepted that it increased their productivity and made their job easier.
Furthermore, more than 60% see generative AI as critical to career advancement and higher pay.
Yet, more than two-fifths of Thai workers are concerned that they will be unable to adapt to the use of generative AI at work and will fall behind.
When it comes to using generative AI for work tasks, nearly one in four feel insecure in comparison to their colleagues.
Rabos pointed out that by embracing generative AI at work through trusted technology and comprehensive policy and training, businesses can reap the benefits of talent retention and attraction, productivity, and business growth.
Besides, he said that generative AI training assisted companies in attracting and retaining talent, which increased the company's competitiveness.
According to the study, 63% of Thai workers believe that companies that are proactive and advanced in the field of generative AI are more appealing places to work. Meanwhile, 37% would consider leaving their current organisation if generative AI in workflows was not prioritised.
"Generative AI is proving to be a transformative technology, and Thai workers are reaping the rewards," Rabos said.
"Rather than dismissing this and the potential benefits of generative AI, businesses should employ a trust-based strategy to mitigate the risks that come with any new technology," he said, adding that as the rapid pace of AI innovation is revolutionising trust, Salesforce has committed to assisting businesses in embracing AI in a trustworthy manner.
Salesforce is a leading cloud-based software company based in the United States. It promotes the use of data and artificial intelligence to provide customer relationship management software and applications focused on sales, customer service, marketing automation, e-commerce, analytics, and application development.
