Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are propelling development in many parts of the world, yet there are questions about the negative impacts on personal privacy.
A Brookings Institute study, The Future of Work: Robots, AI, and Automation,asked a number of questions about artificial intelligence. It found that 14 percent were very positive about AI, 27 percent were somewhat positive, 23 percent were not very positive, and 36 didn’t know or gave no answer. There were differences based on gender with men (18 percent) being more positive compared to women (10 percent). Older people were slightly less positive about AI than young adults.
Twelve percent said they were very optimistic about AI, 29 percent indicated they were somewhat optimistic, 27 percent were not very optimistic, and 32 percent didn’t know or gave no answer. Males (16 percent) were more optimistic about AI than females (9 percent), while those living in the West (30 percent) were the least optimistic about AI.
Twelve percent said they were very worried about AI, 27 percent indicated they were somewhat worried, 34 percent were not very worried, and 27 percent gave didn’t know or gave no answer. Those in the Northeast (15 percent) were most likely to say they were very worried about AI.
Only 5 percent said they expect artificial intelligence to increase personal privacy, 12 percent felt it would have no effect on personal privacy, 49 percent claim it would reduce personal privacy, and 34 percent didn’t know or gave no answer. Males (54 percent) were more likely than women (44 percent) to believe AI would reduce privacy. The same was true for those aged 55 to 64 years old.
When asked how artificial intelligence would affect their day-to-day life, 34 percent said it would make their lives easier, 13 percent said harder, and 53 percent didn’t know or gave no answer. Men (41 percent) were more likely to think AI would make their lives easier than women (28 percent), and those under the age of 35 were most likely to feel that way.
In addition, 32 percent believe that artificial intelligence represents a threat to humanity, while 24 do not and 44 percent didn’t know or gave no answer. Men (35 percent) were more likely than women (28 percent) to feel AI represented a threat. The same was true for those aged 18 to 24 and living in the West.
