The state of development of artificial intelligence in polish industry: opinions of employees

Abstract Purpose The purpose of the article is to show how employees of industrial organizations perceive the development of artificial intelligence (AI) within them and to gather their opinions on what AI solutions are most commonly used in Polish industry. The literature review pointed to the lack of knowledge on how employees of Polish industrial companies perceive the development of AI in their respective companies and what AI solutions they already use. Design/methodology/approach Literature review and surveys were used to collect the data. The study was carried out using a survey questionnaire. The sample was taken with a specific aim in mind: first, 30 entities were selected for that purpose, while in the second stage the employees (managers and specialists) were chosen from among those. Findings In most cases, employees are not afraid of losing their jobs due to the development of AI systems in their industries. They are positive about the use of solutions that include AI elements. In the opinion of the vast majority of respondents, modern technologies, including AI, help them in their work and facilitate it. Most popular current industrial applications are: robotic process automation technologies, Cognex cameras using neural networks, machine-learning and data technologies, distributed control systems (DSCs), enterprise resource planning (ERP)) systems, and security information and event management (SIEM) systems. Practical implication-Results of this research can be useful for developing programs aimed at reducing the fear and anxiety associated with the ongoing Industrial Revolution. Originality/value The presented research results are the only ones that show the opinions of employees regarding artificial intelligence in Polish organizations.