A recent Canadian research study by Intentions and Nicholas Badminton has asked some interesting questions, learning that there is a techno-utopian appeal to the role that AI might play in the future workplace.
The study, which surveyed 2299 adults across Canada, found that a quarter (26%) of Canadian adults believe an unbiased computer program would be more trustworthy and ethical than their workplace leaders and managers.
Among Canadians aged 20-39 even a higher number – 31% – agreed that ‘an unbiased computer program would be more trustworthy and ethical than their workplace leaders and managers’.
It appears that there is a growing awareness of cognitive bias built into human minds, and in particular scenarios in particular workers would rather get people out of the loop.
Challenging the current workplace reality, a quarter (26%) of Canadian adults would prefer to be screened and hired, or have their job performance assessed, by an unbiased computer program. For younger adults those numbers were significantly higher, with 34% preferring to be hired, 33% preferring to be assessed, and 26% preferring to be managed by an unbiased computer program.
The implications are pretty sweeping. If this is a growing generational trend – as suggested by the generational spread – then in the not-too-distant future workers might opt to rely on robotic overminds to manage their companies, hire, fire, and promote. If they are allowed to.
from Stowe Boyd http://www.stoweboyd.com/post/147999562697
