The American public is evenly divided over the implications of artificial intelligence (AI). Still, the majority thinks the new technology will reduce the need for people to do creative or important tasks, according to a new survey that was released on Thursday.
The new Gallup poll found that 49 percent of the U.S. adults said that AI is “just the latest in a long line of technological advancements that humans will learn to use to improve their lives and society.”
The other 49 percent stated AI is “very different from the technological advancements that came before, and threatens to harm humans and society.” Some two percent did not have an answer.
Even with the split, the majority of respondents, 59 percent, said AI will take care of important and routine tasks, which would lead to less need for humans to perform “important” or “creative” work, according to the poll. Nearly four-in-10, 38 percent, said that AI will mostly do mundane tasks, allowing people to do more important or creative work.
The majority of U.S. adults, 64 percent, said that they would resist using AI as long as possible, while the other 35 percent said they would embrace the technology as soon as possible, the survey found. Just one percent did not have an answer.
Around two-thirds of respondents, 66 percent, said that AI would eclipse robotics when it comes to influence in society. Over half of Americans said AI would also exceed the impact of the internet, 56 percent, computers, 57 percent, and smartphones, 59 percent.
A Gallup poll from mid-June found that the use of AI in the workplace has almost doubled in the last two years, going from 21 percent to 40 percent.
The survey was conducted from June 2-15 among 2,017 adults. The margin of error was four percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.
