22 Apr. 2023. In a recent poll, most Americans expect artificial intelligence to have a major impact on the conduct of work in the next 20 years, but not their own work. Pew Research Center released the findings of the survey on Thursday 20 Apr., conducted in Dec. 2022 among adults in the U.S.
The Pew survey found roughly six in 10 Americans believing A.I. will have a major impact on workers in general (62%) and the U.S. economy (56%), compared to about a quarter believing the technology will have only a minor or no impact on work or the economy. Yet, when asked if it would affect their own work in the next 20 years, only about three in 10 (28%) agree A.I. will have a major impact, while 35 percent say a minor impact and 19 percent expect A.I. to have no impact on their work.
One reason for this disparity in expectations may be the unhelpful outcomes expected. No more than two in 10 Americans expect A.I. to help more than hurt workers in general (13%), the U.S. economy (19%), or themselves (16%). On the other hand, roughly one-third of Americans, between 30 and 34 percent, say A.I. will equally help and hurt workers, the U.S. economy, or themselves. And another third of Americans (32%) say A.I. will hurt more than help workers in general, while somewhat fewer — 15 to 20 percent — expect A.I. to hurt more than help the U.S. economy or themselves, with about four in 10 (38%) not sure if A.I. will affect themselves personally.
One area of agreement among adults in the U.S. is the opposition to using A.I. in hiring and employment matters. Majorities or pluralities are against the use of A.I. in the hiring process, with seven in 10 (71%) opposed to A.I. making final hiring decisions, and roughly six in 10, 56 to 61 percent, opposed to A.I. tracking workers movements or while at their desks. Plus, seven in (70%) are also against using facial recognition to analyze workers’ expressions.
Pew Research Center conducted the survey online with 11,004 U.S. adults taking part in the Center’s American Trends Panel from 12 to 18 Dec. 2022. Participants are recruited through national random sampling of U.S. households, with results weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population.
More from Science & Enterprise:
- Infographic – Americans Uncomfortable With A.I. in Health
- Infographic – U.S. More Concerned Than Excited About A.I.
- Infographic – U.S. Majorities Support Clinical Trials
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