The vast majority (72%) of the British public would be more comfortable with AI if new laws regulated the practice were put in place, according to fresh research from the Ada Lovelace Institute and the Alan Turing Institute.
The figures, from a survey of more than 3,500 UK residents, found the desire for AI regulation had increased from 62% in 2023.
The UK has so far opted for a wait and see approach to laws governing AI in the hopes of encouraging innovation and growth of the technology domestically.
There has been some indication that AI legislation is coming – the King’s Speech that opened the current Labour administration’s first parliamentary session said the government would “seek to establish the appropriate legislation to place requirements on those working to develop the most powerful artificial intelligence models”.
But there is a perception that implementing tight regulations too quickly will turn the industry away, jeopardising the UK’s position as a top three AI power.
The pressure to avoid bringing in AI laws was made all the stronger following the backlash to the European Union’s AI Act, the strictest piece of legislation of its kind that has been heavily criticised by the sector.
Though the government is keen to allow innovation to occur unperturbed, the electorate appears to be calling for clear and robust rules.
According to the survey, the public are especially concerned about the use of their data and representation in AI decision-making.
Over two thirds of respondents (67%) claimed to have already faced some form of AI harm, including false information spread by bots, deepfakes and attempted financial fraud.
The government’s recent AI Opportunities Action Plan did claim it would work to improve AI expertise among regulators but there is no clear timeline yet for a British AI bill.
“This new evidence shows that – for AI to be developed and deployed responsibly – it needs to take account of public expectations, concerns and experiences,” said Octavia Field Reid, associate director at the Ada Lovelace Institute.
“The government’s current inaction in legislating to address the potential risks and harms of AI technologies is in direct contrast to public concerns and a growing desire for regulation.”
Prof Helen Margetts, programme director for public policy at the Alan Turing Institute, added: “To realise the many opportunities and benefits of AI, it will be important to build consideration of public views and experiences into decision-making about AI.
“These findings suggest the importance of government’s promise in the AI Action Plan to fund regulators to scale up their AI capabilities and expertise, which should foster public trust.”
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