The research also highlighted a generational divide, with younger respondents more likely to have used AI tools and to expect AI to significantly impact their lives. However, the study also found widespread concern about the potential impact of AI on job security, particularly in sectors like news and journalism. The researchers concluded that it is crucial for business and policy leaders to consider these nuanced and differentiated expectations when interpreting the public's general expectations about the impact of AI.
Key takeaways:
- A new study by Oxford University and the Reuters Institute found that a significant portion of the public is not familiar with popular AI tools like OpenAI's ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot, suggesting companies may be overestimating public interest in AI.
- Many respondents indicated they hadn't used AI tools enough to trust or distrust their outputs, and a substantial percentage said they either didn't know enough about the topic or were ambivalent about trusting AI.
- Younger people were more likely to have used AI tools and to expect AI to significantly impact their lives. Over half of all respondents expected AI to change politics, journalism, and science.
- The study emphasizes the importance of considering the nuanced and differentiated expectations of the public when interpreting their general expectations around the impact of generative AI, both personally and for society at large.