39% of Canadians believe we are currently in a recession, new data from Dye & Durham shows, up from last year.
With the Canadian economy full of uncertainty, an emerging dimension is gaining traction that could redefine the way business operates: Artificial Intelligence.
The use of Generative AI tools among Canadians continues to grow, with nearly half (45%) experimenting with tools like ChatGPT and others for personal reasons, and one-third (33%) for professional purposes, according to Dye & Durham’s Canadian Pulse Report for Q1 2024.
This is compared to figures of 36% and 24% recorded in Q3 2023.
But despite growing personal experimentation with AI, Canadians remain cautious about skilled service providers incorporating AI into the services they provide them, found the D&D report, which surveys Canadians on economic, technological, and real estate trends via the online Angus Reid Forum.
“Canadians are getting much more hands-on exposure to AI,” says David Nash, Chief Product Officer, Dye & Durham, “but they are still at an early stage of the learning curve with a heightened skepticism of AI use when things matter most.”
The report shows a significant portion of respondents expressed discomfort with professionals across sectors, such as doctors (62%), lawyers (61%), mortgage brokers (51%), and insurance brokers (52%) utilizing AI to support their services.
“As legal professionals consider how AI can improve their day-to-day services while staying on the right side of regulations, clear communication and transparent education are paramount in helping clients feel comfortable with the benefits that AI can offer in their services,” offers Nash.
A better understanding of exactly how AI is being used may help the average Canadian become more comfortable with skilled professionals like lawyers and notaries adopting these tools, the report suggests.
For example, 29% of respondents say they would be more comfortable knowing that AI is being used to support the legal professionals without completely replacing them, while 28% expressed increased comfort if such an integration significantly lowered service costs.
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