Challenges and opportunities coexist as manufacturing explores AI’s potential — with early adoption offering lessons but also revealing risks: survey report

Based on a commissioned August/September 2024 survey of 1,400 IT, business and operational technology decision makers* on AI’s impact on the manufacturing sector, a firm dealing in remote access and support software has announced some trends gleaned from the data.

First, 81% of 105 respondents in the manufacturing sector had indicated planning to increase their AI investments in the next six to 12 months, compared to 75% of respondents in other industries with the same indications.

Second, 76% of respondents in the manufacturing sector had indicated concerns about AI security risks, and 42% had cited a lack of related education (in AI skills) as a major hurdle.

Third, 65% of respondents in manufacturing had indicated they were confident in their ability to manage AI-related risks, including data management and employee use of unapproved tools.

Fourth, 96% of respondents (not just in the manufacturing sector) agreed to prompts that “more training is essential to mitigate risks associated with AI”, with 74% indicating that their organization had plans to provide more training in the next six to 12 months.

Finally, 75% of manufacturing respondents had agreed to prompts that AI can “help increase workplace accessibility”, with 68% indicating AI can “create equal job opportunities for parents and caregivers”, compared to an average of 75% of respondents from the other industries.

According to Mei Dent, Chief Product and Technology Officer, TeamViewer, the firm that commissioned the survey, “AI is already making its mark on the world of work and is set to become a permanent fixture. Early adopters offer a compelling glimpse into its benefits, from driving better business outcomes to expanding opportunities for all workers. However, we’re only just beginning to scratch the surface of its potential.”

* in organizations with more than 200 employees in the UK, France, Germany, Australia and Singapore, and with more than 500 employees in the US, where 105 of the respondents were in the manufacturing sector