AI Tools Like ChatGPT Have Become Mainstream, But Are Still Seen as Overhyped
According to a recent survey conducted by Retool, artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT have become mainstream in 2023. The survey, which included over 1,500 professionals working in the technology industry, found that while AI has been rapidly adopted, most respondents still view it as overhyped. Only about a quarter of the respondents considered AI to be fairly rated.
The report states that everyone seems to have played around with large language models (LLMs), and ChatGPT has practically become a household name with over 100 million weekly active users. The study found that teachers, talk show hosts, and even grandparents are now using AI chatbots for more than just laughs.
Enthusiasm Tempered by Skepticism
Despite the widespread enthusiasm for AI, more than half of the respondents (51.6%) still believe that AI is overhyped. Upper management and executives showed the most favorable views of AI, while software engineers closest to implementation work were more skeptical.
AI’s Impact on Jobs and Industries
The survey respondents agreed that AI will significantly transform their industries and jobs within the next five years. On a scale of 0 to 10, the average score for the expected impact of AI exceeded 7. Those in operations roles expected the highest level of change, followed by product managers and engineers. Respondents expect efficiency gains, less boring work, new skills to learn, and updated design processes as a result of AI implementation.
Dependence on Stack Overflow Decreases
The survey found that many engineers now rely less on Stack Overflow for coding help. Close to 60% of respondents reported using Stack Overflow less since 2022, with 1 in 10 respondents completely stopping its usage. The fall-off in usage was primarily attributed to the availability of AI tools like GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT.
AI Skills in Hiring
When asked about their likelihood to hire candidates proficient in using ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot for coding, respondents rated an average of 6.7 on a scale of 0 to 10. Small startups showed the greatest openness to hiring candidates with AI coding skills, while mid-size enterprises were more cautious. However, nearly 30% of respondents described themselves as neutral on AI coding skills, and only a small percentage viewed them as a negative.
Corporate Motivations for AI Adoption
The survey revealed that cost savings and trendiness are driving most businesses to pursue AI. Cost reductions, trendiness, customer needs, and competitive pressure were cited as the top motivations for adopting AI. Direct revenue impact was not seen as a key driver for most companies.
Usefulness and Challenges of AI
Companies actively using AI tools rated them as largely useful but not perfect. Accuracy issues, data security concerns, and occasional hallucinations were among the top challenges reported by respondents. The report emphasizes the importance of understanding the strengths and shortcomings of AI tools for effective usage.
OpenAI Dominance
Among enterprises implementing AI, OpenAI’s natural language offerings were found to dominate adoption compared to other vendors. ChatGPT was the most widely used model by respondents. However, off-the-shelf offerings still prevail over customization, with self-hosting open-source algorithms being the exception rather than the norm.
About the Survey
The survey conducted by Retool included 1,578 respondents from various industries. Technology workers accounted for 39% of participants, followed by consulting and professional services at 12%, and financial services at 10%. The respondents held different roles, including engineers, operations roles, product managers, and C-suite title roles. The majority of companies represented were small-sized businesses with fewer than 100 employees.
Hot Take: AI Tools Go Mainstream, but Skepticism Remains
The survey conducted by Retool highlights the mainstream adoption of AI tools like ChatGPT in 2023. While there is widespread enthusiasm for AI, many still view it as overhyped. The survey reveals that AI has the potential to significantly transform industries and jobs in the coming years. However, challenges such as accuracy issues and data security concerns need to be addressed. As AI continues to evolve, investment in AI governance and ethics is crucial to ensure its positive future. Despite the dominance of OpenAI’s offerings, customization remains limited. Overall, AI tools have become valuable assets but understanding their limitations is essential for effective utilization.
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