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Progress, the trusted provider of application development and infrastructure software, has announced the results of its global survey, “Data Bias: The Hidden Risk of AI.” Conducted by independent research firm Insight Avenue, the Progress global survey is based on interviews with more than 640 business and IT professionals, director level and above, who use data to make decisions and are using or planning to use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to support their decision-making. The full report and findings can be found here.

Biases in AI Are a Problem

Biases are often inherited by cultural and personal experiences. When data is collected and used in training ML models, the models inherit the bias of the people building them. This produces unexpected and potentially harmful outcomes. Yet, despite the potential legal and financial pitfalls associated with data bias, there is a lack of understanding around the training, processes and technology needed to tackle data bias successfully.

The Progress survey indicated that 74% of Singaporean business and IT decision-makers believe data bias will become a bigger concern as AI/ML use increases. However, only 16% are currently addressing it and have an ongoing evaluation process. The biggest barriers they see are:

• Lack of awareness of potential biases
• Difficulties in understanding how to identify bias
• Lack of available expert resources, such as having access to data scientists

More Findings from the Survey

The survey findings also show:

• 58% of organisations anticipate becoming more reliant on AI/ML decision-making in the coming years.

• 68% believe there is currently data bias in their organisation.
• 74% believe they need to be doing more to address data bias.
• 48% consider lack of awareness and understating of biases as a barrier to addressing it.

“Bias can be a serious detriment to growth. Indeed, one in two Singaporean businesses cites eroding customer trust as the biggest implication of unchecked data bias. Local organisations are also worried about lost financial opportunities (48%) as well as security and governance risks (38%),” said John Yang, Vice President for Asia Pacific and Japan at Progress. “At Progress, we strive to help businesses make insightful decisions. Our customers are central to everything we do and we put them first as we explore how AI/ML can enhance effective decision-making that drives businesses forward.”

The results of the survey are based on interviews with business and IT professionals located across the Americas, Europe and Asia. It focused on the use of data in decision-making. These professionals come from organisations with over 500 employees to better understand the overall awareness of data bias, how it was impacting businesses and what companies were doing to address it.

To view the full findings, go to https://progress.com/papers/data-bias-the-hidden-risk-of-ai.

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