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Risks of AI
The desire of employees to have a say in AI decisions does not come out of nowhere. Clear risks are experienced in the workplace when working with AI. For example, over half of the employees (54%) cite a decline in critical thinking as their biggest concern. Additionally, 38 percent worry that colleagues lack the necessary skills to use AI responsibly. The fear of job or role loss also plays a part: 36 percent see this as a real risk. Furthermore, employees fear that creativity will be under pressure (32%) and that there will be less room for intuition in work (26%). These risks explain why employees want not only to be informed but also to actively participate in discussions about the use of AI within their organization.
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Human control and clear rules
The desire to participate in AI decisions goes beyond mere involvement. Employees expect that choices regarding technology are carefully considered. For instance, 44 percent believe that decisions about AI should always be assessed by humans. Additionally, there is a need for clarity regarding the rules: a third of employees (32%) want to be actively informed about laws and regulations surrounding AI, such as the European AI Act.
Martien Merks, CEO of Fellowmind Netherlands: 'The results of this research show that the discussion about AI in the workplace fundamentally concerns ownership rather than technology. AI increasingly influences how work is organized and evaluated. It is therefore logical that employees want to know who decides, who is responsible, and where human considerations come into play. In practice, it appears that AI only adds value when employees are involved from the start, clear frameworks are established, and human assessment is organized. If that dialogue is skipped and AI is implemented top-down, distrust arises and value remains untapped. Therefore, employee involvement is not a hindrance to innovation, but a prerequisite for responsible and effective use of AI.'
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