Despite much being written about the potential of AI and its benefits, the survey found that only 39% of the world’s population believe it will mostly help people in their country over the next 20 years.
The report - A Digital World: Perceptions of risk from AI and misuse of personal data, shows just how tough it will be in encouraging not only the greater adoption and use of AI but also its acceptance by certain groups around the world.
The report is based on the 2021 Lloyd’s Register Foundation World Risk Poll and involved 125,000 people across 121 countries. They were polled about their attitudes towards AI and personal data misuse, among other safety topics, and the results found a clear divide in opinion around the benefits of AI.
Optimism about AI was most prevalent in regions that are leading in the development of these technologies, such as Eastern Asia where a majority (57%) said AI would mostly help people, while only 13% said it would mostly cause harm, resulting in a ratio higher than any other global region.
Distrust in AI was highest in low-income regions, such as Southern Asia, Eastern Africa, Central/Western Africa, Southern Africa, Northern Africa and Eastern Africa - which showed clear majorities answering that AI would mostly harm people in their country.
Women were also less likely than men to say AI would mostly help people in their country – 35% versus 43%, respectively. They were also somewhat more likely than men to say AI would mostly harm people (29% vs. 27%) or that they did not have an opinion.
Commenting on the findings Dr Sarah Cumbers, Director of Evidence and Insight at Lloyd’s Register Foundation, said, “Artificial intelligence has huge potential to bring good to the world, and we’re already seeing a number of examples of its benefits within healthcare, disaster risk management and government services. However, if we don’t manage the public understanding of risk in relation to these technologies, we may fail to introduce them in a way that is accepted by the majority.”
A key factor, according to the findings, is the level of exposure people have to digital technologies. Globally, 44% of people who said they have access to the internet felt AI will mostly help people in their country in the next 20 years. This is compared to just 28% of those without internet access. These differences were present regardless of people’s educational attainment level; for example, while 34% of people with primary education or less said AI will mostly help people in their country, that figure rose to 43% among those with internet access.
There is certainly an issue when it comes to trust in AI, but it appears that the solution is simply greater exposure. The more people are exposed to AI the greater the trust and a more positive outlook.
As Cumbers said, “It’s essential that governments, policymakers and innovators engage with vulnerable communities to understand and address their concerns about AI technology to ensure they are introduced in a way that benefits all.”
However, that’s not the end of the story. People will also need to have confidence in how their data is protected and used as well as in how policies pertaining to privacy are implemented, and that the benefits derived from using AI are distributed equitably.
To find out more about the World Risk Poll, follow the link below.
