A majority of business leaders, 72%, anticipate adopting generative AI within the next three years to make employees more productive and 66% aim to use it to enhance customer service, according to a survey released today by Insight Enterprises.

Furthermore, 81% of respondents stated their companies have established or implemented policies/strategies around generative AI or are currently in the process of doing so.

The report also found 53% of the respondents expect to use the technology to assist with research and development, while 50% anticipate using it for software development/testing.

Additionally, professionals think top roles impacted by the adoption of generative AI will include data analyst/data scientist, software developer, software tester, financial operations and communications. 

The survey also highlighted some concerns related to generative AI technologies at the organization. Top concerns included quality and control (51%) and safety and security risks (49%). Other concerns expressed by business leaders included limitations on human innovation (39%), cost of implementation/budgetary constraints (38%) and legal and regulatory compliance (35%). Another 38% of respondents were concerned about human error due to a lack of understanding of how to use the tool or accidental breaches of their organization’s data and 26% cited workforce displacement as one of their concerns about the implementation of generative AI technologies.

“Generative AI has opened up amazing new possibilities to build companies, to grow companies, and to make companies more efficient and profitable,” said Matt Jackson, Insight's global chief technology officer. “The pace of exploration and adoption of this technology is unprecedented. People are sitting in meeting rooms or virtual rooms discussing how generative AI can help them achieve near-term business goals while trying to stave off being disrupted by somebody else who is a faster, more efficient adopter.”

The survey was conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of Insight Enterprises from April 26 to May 3. It includes responses from 405 US adults aged 25 and above who are employed full time as a director or higher at a company with more than 1,000 employees.