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Trust in GenAI: An Irish Perspective

Insights from Deloitte’s survey on Trust in GenAI

 

Overview 

 

The rise of Generative AI (GenAI) is reshaping how businesses, individuals, and industries operate. With exciting applications ranging from crafting captivating essays and advancing conversational AI capabilities to generating images and videos from simple user input, the possibilities of GenAI seem limitless. As GenAI becomes a transformative force in both personal and professional spheres, these tools are increasingly integrated into daily life.  


While the revolutionary potential of this technology is clear, ensuring privacy, security, and responsible implementation is essential. As promising use cases begin to deliver results and organisations increase their investment in GenAI, we are at a pivotal moment for its adoption. 

"With employees eager to embrace GenAI and capitalise on its productivity benefits, organisations must implement robust structures to guide its use and mitigate any unintended risks to their business."  

Emmanuel Adeleke, Partner (Artificial Intelligence and Data)

Based on Deloitte's recent survey on Trust in GenAI (‘the survey’), which gathered insights from over 2,400 consumers and employees in Ireland, this report highlights three key trends identified in the survey and their implications for the future of GenAI adoption. First, we examine confidence in GenAI tools and perceptions of these tools' reliability. Next, we explore the main factors that are considered crucial for building trust in GenAI technologies. Finally, we delve into the role of GenAI in the workplace, analysing the drivers of its adoption and the benefits observed.

In Ireland, there is a noteworthy confidence in GenAI among its users, with a majority agreeing it can enhance business products (72%), work experiences (67%) and society (60%). This optimism reflects a strong belief in GenAI’s potential impact, suggesting opportunities for growth and wider integration across sectors. 

High levels of user confidence in GenAI indicates a baseline trust, with over half believing it delivers reliable (59%) and accurate (59%) results. However, this optimism can lead to misplaced trust in the accuracy of its outputs, leading to potential risks and errors in decision-making processes. 

This contrast between perceived and actual reliability underscores the necessity for AI fluency. To ensure responsible development, the adoption of a Trust by Design approach is essential. 

While optimism around GenAI and its benefits is widespread, concerns about data privacy, personal data misuse and security risks remain top of mind for users. In fact, most users (67%) view privacy and security as essential factors in trusting these tools.   

Notably, 67% of users express concerns regarding deepfakes and misinformation, while 65% worry about data privacy and the misuse of personal data. However, government regulations like the EU AI Act are seen as potential trust builders. To assist organisations in better understanding their compliance obligations, Deloitte performed a deep-dive study of the EU AI Act. 

Organisations must take a proactive approach to user protection by minimising data collection and ensuring clarity in data usage. Ensuring accuracy, transparency, and explainability are vital in building trust. 

Many organisations acknowledge the potential of GenAI, but its practical implementation is still in the early stages. While 42% of employees who use GenAI indicate that their organisation promotes its use, only 33% use these tools for work-related tasks. 

Employees using GenAI report improvements in efficiency (36%), quality (35%), and innovation (34%). These perceived benefits have prompted half of the respondents to use free external GenAI tools, with one-third accessing tools owned by other companies through personal accounts. 

As organisations navigate their AI transformation, prioritising cultural evolution is crucial. AI should be integrated as a skill across all levels. To establish an effective AI change agenda, organisations must define clear ground rules for responsible AI use. Implementing enterprise AI fluency programmes will be key to reducing reliance on unsanctioned GenAI tools. 

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