How workers across Thailand, Singapore and Australia feel about using generative AI

Three in five (63%) in Singapore are concerned about being unable to adapt to using generative AI at work, a sentiment shared by two in five (44%) in Thailand, and half of those polled (51%) in Australia.

Limited understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) ethics and safety is not preventing workers from using generative AI at work, in the three markets (Thailand, Singapore, and Australia) covered in YouGov research, commissioned by Salesforce.

Starting out with data from Singapore, the majority of those polled (over 90%) weren't able to identify all the actions associated with using AI ethically or safely.

As such, the top three practices most associated with using generative AI safely that Singaporean workers identified are:

• Only using company-approved generative AI tools/programmes (51%)
• Never using confidential company data in prompts for generative AI tools (47%)
• Never using personally identifiable customer data in prompts for generative AI tools (45%)

On a similar note, the top three practices most associated with using generative AI ethically that Singaporean workers identified are:

• Only using generative AI tools that have been validated for accuracy (37%)
• Only using company-verified generative AI tools/programmes (36%)
• Fact-checking generative AI outputs before using them (35%)

These concerns around generative AI safety and ethics is not stopping those surveyed in Singapore from using it at work, whereby they admitted to using it for:

• Presenting AI's work as their own: 76% who use and experiment with generative AI at work have used it to complete a work task and presented it as their own work, with 53% having done so multiple times.
• Using a generative AI platform that has been banned: One in two (48%) who use and experiment with generative AI at work admit to using a generative AI platform that their employer has banned.

The study also presented data from workers' sentiments in Thailand and Australia, some of which are shared below. 

Singaporean workers see Gen AI as key to career advancement but have anxieties around keeping up

Can generative AI help workers to progress/secure a promotion in their current organisation?

[Thailand] More than half (60%) of Thai workers believe generative AI helps them to do so.
[Australia] Nearly half (48%) of Australian workers believe generative AI helps them to do so.

However, more than half (62%) are concerned about falling behind and future growth opportunities in their industry.

[Thailand] 44% say they are concerned about falling behind/being unable to adapt to using generative AI at work.
[Australia] 51% say they are concerned about falling behind/being unable to adapt to using generative AI at work.

Lack of training in using generative AI effectively (38%) is the top barrier preventing Singaporean workers from using it more at work. 

[Thailand] Lack of training in using generative AI effectively (34%) is the top barrier preventing Thai workers from using it more at work.
[Australia] Lack of training in using generative AI effectively (31%) is the top barrier preventing Australian workers from using it more at work.

Sujith Abraham, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Salesforce ASEAN, commented: "We are witnessing the consumerisation of AI in the workplace as demand to use generative AI continues to grow. Rather than dismiss this and the potential benefits of generative AI, businesses should employ a strategy that’s grounded in trust to safeguard against the risks that come with any new technology."

Data in this report is from a study conducted online, whereby the sample comprised:

• 1,044 Singaporeans who are 18 years and older, who are full-time office workers, and who work in a business with at least one other employee.
• 1,049 Thai who are 18 years and older, who are full-time office workers, and who work in a business with at least one other employee.
• 1,191 Australians 18 years and older, who are full-time office workers and who work in a business with at least one other employee.

The findings were weighted by the population of full-time workers in Australia aged 18+ by gender, and age.

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