Public more worried about AI job loss than apocalyptic risks
New research from the University of Zurich indicates that people are more concerned about current threats related to AI than distant apocalyptic catastrophes.
Researchers from the University of Zurich have conducted studies showing that individuals are more worried about present threats associated with the development of artificial intelligence (AI), such as misinformation and job loss, rather than distant apocalyptic disasters. Over 10,000 participants from the UK and the USA took part in the study. The results were published in the journal "PNAS".
What AI-related threats cause the most concern?
The studies conducted by a team of political scientists from the University of Zurich involved three extensive online experiments. Participants were exposed to various news headlines related to AI, ranging from catastrophic scenarios and current threats to potential benefits.
"In three preregistered, online survey experiments (N = 10,800), participants were exposed to news headlines that either depicted AI as a catastrophic risk, highlighted its immediate societal impacts, or emphasized its potential benefits," write the study's authors, Emma Hoes and Fabrizio Gilardi.
Should the public debate change direction?
The research suggests that even after exposure to apocalyptic warnings, participants remained attentive to current issues. "Our study shows that the discussion about long-term risks is not automatically occurring at the expense of alertness to present problems," Emma Hoes told SciTechDaily. Fabrizio Gilardi added, "The public discourse shouldn't be 'either-or.' A concurrent understanding and appreciation of both the immediate and potential future challenges is needed."
The study provides substantial empirical evidence that can influence ongoing scientific and political debates regarding the social implications of AI. It highlights the need to address both short-term and long-term threats associated with AI concurrently.
