The fear of artificial intelligence is decreasing, at least in Germany. The digital association BITKOM has now presented a new study, which shows that skepticism about AI has diminished over the last three years.
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Around two thirds of the citizens surveyed said that they see artificial intelligence as an opportunity today. Only around 30% continue to see it as a potential threat. Three years ago, these two opinions tended to balance each other out.
When it comes to the use of artificial intelligence in our everyday lives, however, opinions differ widely. For example, those surveyed by BITKOM welcome the use of AI in administration, such as public authorities and offices, or in care, but are rather critical of its use in childcare, education and human resources management. Particularly on the last point, they fear that applicants could be rejected without any objective reason.
A major topic of the study was also the use of AI in mobility. For example, around 75% support the support of assistance systems in cars through artificial intelligence, but widespread use in buses, subways or urban trains is not expected for the time being. Even autonomous cars can only be imagined by about 30% of the respondents on German roads in the next ten years.
Germans continue to be particularly critical about the safety of self-propelled cars. 57% even assume that they could contribute to serious accidents.
Overall, three quarters of those surveyed would like to see German leadership in AI.
“Citizens see an outstanding importance of AI for economy and prosperity. Two thirds (66 percent), for example, believe that AI will strengthen the competitiveness of the German economy. And three quarters (75 percent) demand that Germany should take a leading role worldwide in the development and marketing of AI applications.”
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Despite the increasing openness to artificial intelligence, there is still plenty of room for improvement. In the study, BITKOM appeals for more data sovereignty and data openness and hopes that there will also be a change of course in regulation – away from the regulation of artificial intelligence and towards the regulation of AI-supported areas of application.
