People in Finland are split over the perceived benefits and dangers of artificial intelligence (AI), according to a survey published this weekend by the independent, non-profit Foundation for Municipal Development (Kaks).
Sixty-two percent of respondents said they believe AI will boost the efficiency of industrial production, while half said the same about work productivity.
On the downside, nearly half expect AI to weaken privacy protection while more than a third said it would have a negative impact on the number of jobs and on customer service. Almost a third said that AI will make it harder to access accurate, error-free information.
Nearly 40 percent said AI would improve transport safety, while slightly more either could not say or thought it would have a neutral effect. There were similar splits on whether AI would have a positive nor negative impact on climate change, democracy and social equality.
People who took part in the survey were also divided over whether AI would affect their own lives. About one fifth said the impact would be positive while nearly as many said it would be negative and the rest were uncertain.
NCP, Greens supporters most positive about AI
Politically, supporters of the National Coalition Party and the Greens have most likely to have a positive view of AI, while backers of the Finns Party and the Centre Party were more negative about it.
Younger respondents were more likely to see AI as having a positive effect on their lives. Meanwhile older people, rural residents and people with lower education tended to take a more pessimistic view.
However, young people differed from others in that they were more likely to say that AI will reduce the number of jobs in the future.
The study was conducted by Kantar Public, which interviewed just over 1,000 people in June.
Source: Yle
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