Artificial intelligence is not even among the top 20 risks for managers

There are many concerns about artificial intelligence. This technology puts workers out of work, spreads misinformation, and exposes consumer companies to huge legal risks. However, according to a new survey of 2,800 executives, business leaders apparently aren’t too worried about AI.

According to published reports, artificial intelligence is not even among the top 20 options of concern for business executives in this survey conducted by management consulting firm Aon. Their biggest concern is a “cyber attack or data breach.” According to survey participants, other top concerns for business executives include any interruption in business operations, the economic downturn, and the inability to attract and retain talent.

Ignoring artificial intelligence

Aon explains in its report that the survey participants may have been wrong because AI is a significant threat to organizations and should have been ranked higher. Karim Lakhani, a Harvard Business School professor who focuses on the role of artificial intelligence in business, agrees and says:

“People are completely oblivious to it. Artificial intelligence is a risk in many ways. It is surprising that in the rank 49 contract. For me, it is one of the top five or three options.”

According to him, the reason for this could be the fatigue of business managers regarding the technological trends in recent years. In the past years, many fields, including blockchain, web3, digital currency, metaverse, augmented and virtual reality, and now artificial intelligence, have received attention. Given these growing technologies, Lakhani says business leaders may think AI is more of a future problem than it is today, when it really isn’t.

While AI is not considered a threat, at least not now, to the survey participants, they do acknowledge the implications of the technology in the future. Business leaders expect technology to become their 17th biggest risk in the future, but expect cyber attacks to remain at the top.