AI trust gap widens as most workers use technology without adequate training

Do you trust AI? According to new ONS research, the answer is likely no. As part of the Artificial intelligence in UK businesses: 2023 to 2026 report, brand marketing agency GROFU delved into the details, finding that 81% of people can’t tell what’s real from fake, while 27% of people do not believe AI will benefit them.

While many people use AI recreationally, cracks show up in professional use, with 90% of businesses not fully training staff to work with the technology.

Despite that, 55% of workers are using the technology – the source of the slop?

As well as being untrained in how to use it, one in five of those workers are also using it without the sanctioning of their employer.

Patrick McFadden, Managing Director at GROFU said: “What is evident is that a large amount of the “slop” we find on our screens is down to people not knowing how to use AI effectively and efficiently.”

That couldn’t be more evident across social media, in-particularly, professional networking platform LinkedIn. According to a study, two-thirds of posts on the business-based platform are flagged, leading the platform to allow users to report posts that “seems like AI slop”.

That’s in keeping with the AI economy largely being driven by content, particularly among what we would consider “slop”. 18% of businesses are investing in large language models and 16% investing in visual content creation, the largest usages in the workforce.

Patrick added: “What’s clear is that the numbers don’t add up across AI’s usage and training and tools within the workspace. AI can’t be used effectively without developing a skillset around it. AI should not be about removing human expertise, but about refining, enhancing and improving workflows so knowledge can be better utilised.”

The lack of knowledge is also having a knock-on effect. Only a third of people believe AI will benefit them, while many still fear it will lead to job losses. 49% of 30-49-year-olds feel their job could be at risk, while that figure is 47% for 16-29-year-olds, despite those generations accounting for 60% of AI use. Although these fears are unfounded.

Patrick added: “It’s clear that there is still a misunderstanding of AI in the workplace. Only 7% of businesses have seen a decrease in headcount since implementing the technology, meaning fear is running at seven times the evidence.

“If staff are properly trained to use the tools at their disposal, two things happen. The fear drops, because they can finally see where they fit. And the work gets better, because they’re using AI to enhance what they do rather than replace it.”