A recent poll, conducted by BC-based Research Co., has found that a vast majority of British Columbians fear artificial intelligence (AI) could take over their job.
This poll asked how concerned BC residents were about many aspects of AI being integrated so rapidly into our society.
To this 80% said they were concerned for their employment, fearing AI would take over their jobs, 76% said they fear an AI-caused event could lead to loss of human life and 84% said they feared that AI would lead to loss of intelligence for humankind.
When asked what origin of new AI technologies concerns them the most, respondents indicated that their level of trust varied, depending on who was in charge of creating AI.
In terms of governments, 43% said they did not trust the federal government to create AI and 61% said they did not trust international governments; however, 49% of respondents said they did, in fact, trust the Province of BC’s government.
The poll also indicated that business CEOs and tech companies are not trusted by British Columbians to create and operate AI engines, whereas universities, as well as doctors and nurses were afforded the majority’s trust.
When asked how respondents felt about the continuing development of AI, 50% said they would like AI development to slow down, 24% said they want to see AI develop more rapidly and 11% said they would like AI development to be abandoned altogether.
Despite these findings, of the respondents from BC, only 58% said they had been following AI development in the news and 42% said they had not been.
How do you feel about the continued development of AI? Do you fear for your employment as AI becomes more complex and integrated in society?
