Anxiety towards of artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an increasingly debated issue in various areas of our lives. Despite the enormous opportunities AI offers, a growing number of people are expressing concern about its social and personal impact. A recent Pew Research Center survey in the United States highlights that public anxiety about AI has outpaced enthusiasm for its potential.
The Pew Research Center Survey: A Shift in Mindset
This survey of over 11,000 US adults revealed that 521% of respondents are more concerned than enthusiastic about the adoption of AI-based technologies. This figure is up from 371% in 2021, signaling a clear shift in public perception. The research comes at a critical time, when discussions about artificial intelligence are becoming increasingly frequent among both industry experts and the general population.
AI and Public Safety: A Divided Debate
A particularly sensitive issue addressed by the survey is the use of artificial intelligence in public safety. About half of respondents stated they had no clear opinion on this issue. The remainder were evenly split between those who see AI as a potential threat and those who consider it a useful tool for improving police operations.
AI in Healthcare: Opportunities and Concerns
Another field where artificial intelligence has been greeted with a mixture of enthusiasm and concern is healthcare. While the technology promises to help doctors provide more accurate diagnoses and more effective treatments, it also raises legitimate concerns about its ability to make decisions that could have serious, even lethal, implications for patients.
Privacy and Security: Top Concerns
Regardless of the various application areas, the general concerns primarily revolve around the security of personal information and privacy. These fears are in line with growing calls from activists, policy experts, and researchers for greater oversight and accountability from companies and governments implementing AI.
AI and the Problem of Discrimination
The survey did not explore the topic of discrimination in depth. However, numerous studies have shown how AI systems can reinforce or even amplify existing prejudices based on race, gender, or economic status. Conversely, artificial intelligence can also be used as a tool to identify and mitigate these prejudices.
Maintaining Autonomy in an Age Dominated by AI
An emerging concern is how to maintain a sense of autonomy in a world increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence. Some, like former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, have observed that there is a widespread sense of being subjected to technology, rather than shaping it, especially outside major technology hubs like the United States, Europe, and China.
How to Gain Greater Control over Artificial Intelligence
Despite the concerns, there are ways to exert greater control over AI. For example, it's important to understand the economic motivations behind the narratives surrounding "superintelligence" and artificial general intelligence. Furthermore, it's crucial that discussions about AI's impact on society become more inclusive, involving not only tech companies and governments, but also the general public.
Looking to the Past to Understand the Future
Lessons from the past demonstrate that doomsday predictions about AI can be wrong and that regulation can actually benefit society. For example, while some feared mass unemployment due to automation, this scenario has not materialized.
In conclusion, it's essential to adopt a balanced approach to artificial intelligence, viewing it neither as a panacea nor an inevitable threat, but as a powerful tool that can be shaped to serve human interests. As Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott stated, understanding the impact of AI is part of "21st-century civic sense."
