A recent survey from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner reveals that merely 4% of Australians trust artificial intelligence, a figure that places AI on par with data brokers and only slightly above social media platforms. This distrust is exacerbated by incidents such as a university vice-chancellor's undisclosed use of AI in writing an opinion piece for a major newspaper.
Growing AI Usage Amidst Deep Distrust
Data from Roy Morgan indicates that 13.6 million Australians, or 58% of the population over 14, now use AI monthly. ChatGPT leads the pack, followed by Google's Gemini and Microsoft Copilot. The most frequent users are aged 25-34 (74%) and 35-49 (72%), suggesting that a significant portion of the workforce is engaging with these tools.
Guardian Australia has extensively covered AI's impact across various sectors, from healthcare to the legal system. As large language models become embedded in everyday products, their use is inevitable, yet trust remains alarmingly low.
Transparency Concerns
The survey found that 79% of Australians want to know when AI is being used, an increase from 73% in 2023. The lack of transparency regarding AI usage is a primary concern. The case of Western Sydney University's pro vice-chancellor, Cath Ellis, who used Microsoft Copilot to write an opinion piece for the Sydney Morning Herald without disclosure, exemplifies this issue. The university admitted to AI use only after the article was published, prompting the newspaper to retract it.
Had Ellis been transparent about her AI use, the outcome might have been different. However, the incident underscores the growing tension between AI adoption and the need for openness.
Broader Implications
The availability of AI models raises questions about authorship in academia, workplaces, and media. Fair Work Australia has requested new powers to reject AI-generated applications due to a surge in low-effort submissions. Academic journals are implementing policies against generative AI, yet its use continues to rise.
Even in programming, where AI is praised for efficiency, there is pushback. The Zig programming language community, for instance, has resisted AI contributions. This growing distrust leads to witch-hunt-style accusations of AI use, even when unfounded, and can cause audiences to disengage.
Need for Transparency
Without clear disclosure, the benefits of AI remain obscured, and normalization is hindered. Omitting AI use due to fear of backlash only undermines trust in existing industries. As AI becomes more prevalent, transparency is essential to maintain credibility and public confidence.
