Survey: Public trust in artificial intelligence in Britain declines, privacy and job concerns increase

A new survey conducted in the UK has found that the initial enthusiasm for artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly diminished, with a large number of people limiting or abandoning the use of this technology due to concerns over privacy, security, job losses, and chatbots. According to a survey by the Institute for the Future of Digital Society and AI in the UK at King's College London, 42% of participants said they have reduced their use of chatbots, while more than half believe that the benefits of AI are accompanied by significant risks.

The researchers who compiled the report warned that there is growing public resistance to AI. King's College London said the main reason for the decline in AI usage is concerns over data privacy, security, and legal requirements, while the second most important reason is that many individuals prefer to stick to traditional methods.

The survey, which involved over 2,000 British citizens, found that 52% of participants believe the risks of AI outweigh its benefits, a four percent increase from the previous survey, while the proportion of people with a positive view of AI has decreased to 34%. The survey also revealed that many individuals feel forced to use chatbots and other AI systems, as they believe it will be difficult or impossible to completely avoid AI in the future.

The report stated that there is increasing pressure on people to learn and use AI in order to get or keep a job, however, those who deliberately choose not to use it are not necessarily lacking in skills. Jack Stilgoe, a researcher at King's College London, said that companies introducing new technologies often assume that people will grow to like a technology over time, but research has found that this is not the case with AI.

He said that even the biggest supporters of AI are becoming more concerned about its potential risks over time, and this group is also showing more hesitation in using it. Kate Devlin, a researcher at King's College London, said that people should be given clear choices and effective controls over the use of AI, so they can decide for themselves when and to what extent to use AI, and also be able to opt out if needed.