Autonomous Agents: Can Australians Trust AI to Do the Work?
Autonomous agents are being hailed as the next big thing in AI. Imagine your very own assistant that handles all the boring, repetitive tasks – available 24/7 and perfectly synced with your business data. It sounds like a dream, right?
But despite this amazing potential, Australians are cautious – only 11% trust AI to make independent decisions. People are hesitant, mainly due to concerns about transparency and control. So the question stands - how do we bridge the gap?
The AI-Human Gap with Autonomous Agents
While excitement around AI’s ability to transform workplaces is high, trust is essential for widespread acceptance.
- 62% of Australian office workers fear losing control to AI.
- 89% don’t trust it to operate autonomously without oversight.
- Only 24% know how AI is implemented or governed in their workplace.
Trust in AI handling tasks autonomously remains low. Roles like ensuring inclusivity (47%), onboarding and training employees (43%), and keeping data safe (40%) are still seen as human responsibilities.
Instead of imagining a world run entirely by AI, the goal is to offload repetitive tasks to AI while letting human workers focus on higher-value activities. Combining machine efficiency with human judgement and creativity will build trust and shape a more autonomous future.
Bridging the Trust with Agents:
Trust will grow if humans maintain significant control in AI operations. Respondents highlighted several ways to build trust in AI:
- Training: 67% of Australian workers said that more skill-building would boost their trust in AI. Knowledge is power, and Salesforce provides comprehensive training modules, like Trailhead's AI Fundamentals, to help teams understand AI's integration into their daily tasks, boosting their confidence.
For businesses new to AI, expert partners like ProQuest offer practical advice and customised solutions, ensuring your workforce is equipped with the right skills to use AI effectively. - Data Accuracy & Security: 88% want AI to use accurate data, 87% need data security, and 84% expect AI to rely on complete data to build trust.
Autonomous agents from Salesforce are built with Einstein Trust Layer, which enhances security and transparency in AI operations. By using your business’s own data securely, Salesforce ensures AI decisions are based on accurate and complete information, building a strong foundation for trust. - Proven Success: 73% believe that AI must consistently produce accurate results to be trusted—a higher threshold than the global average of 68%.
As the saying goes, actions speak louder than words. Many are still unsure about autonomous agents, but once they see them in action, the results speak for themselves. Salesforce has already helped market leaders like Wyndham Hotels, Wiley, and OpenTable adopt Agentforce successfully. If you’re curious to see how this could elevate your business, talk to us—we’d love to show you how it works and how much value it can add.
