Salesforce’s survey, which was conducted in partnership with YouGov in May of this year, reflected the thoughts and opinions of nearly 1,400 full-time, UK-based workers across sales, service, marketing, and commerce.

Statistics-wise, over one-third (38%) of respondents are using or planning to use generative AI in their roles — but just under two-thirds (62%) say they lack the skills when it comes to using such tools in a safe and accurate manner.

Despite generative AI’s potential to streamline various work-related processes and tasks, thereby increasing productivity, there’s a distinct wariness around trust and security risks.

On this, 58% cited bias as a concern, while 46% said the same regarding inaccuracies in generative AI outputs. Further, a lack of human contextual knowledge (70%) and human creativity (66%) point to the need for human input and control.

As worries over potential inaccuracies and privacy issues mount, some companies are halting their employees from using generative AI tools like ChatGPT in a professional capacity.

For example, and according to The Wall Street Journal, Apple has restricted the use of ChatGPT and other external artificial intelligence tools like GitHub’s Copilot over concerns that workers could release confidential data.

However, earlier this month, DIGIT reported on a new GitHub survey that found the vast majority of software developers are already using AI coding tools, with 67% saying they use the tools both in work and out of it, and 25% saying they use them purely at work.

On Salesforce’s findings — and on trust, safety, and accuracy in generative AI — Zahra Bahrolouloumi, CEO at Salesforce UKI, said: “Generative AI is the most important technological breakthrough of our lifetime, revolutionising how businesses interact with customers.

“But its potential will only be realised if we put trust and safety at the centre of this technology. This starts with managing data. Pulling from data sources that are relevant, representative, and complete.”

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Salesforce’s previous research underscored the AI skills shortage that organisations are facing amid the explosion in generative AI interest, adoption, and usage: just 1 in 10 UK workers feel they have AI skills.

This skills shortage can then deepen safety and security worries. As Salesforce found in its latest research, over two-thirds of UK workers (67%) are concerned that their broader teams don’t have the skills to effectively and safely use generative AI.

As organisations transition to this new technology, over half (55%) of respondents said that they would like their employers to provide them with generative AI training.

On this, Bahrolouloumi added: “To stay competitive and drive long-term transformation for their customers and business, organisations need highly skilled people to use trusted data sources and ensure sensitive data is kept secure.

“The need to prioritise upskilling at every level has never been more clear nor urgent.”