- Survey of 10,000 adults globally finds 13% increase in number of people who think AI could do some parts of their job since 2023
- Only 38% felt the opportunities provided by quantum computing outweigh the risks
- Data published by BSI ahead of international meeting of c.1,200 technology experts in Edinburgh, UK
21 Oct 2024: New research by BSI reveals growing public confidence in AI capabilities, with over half (51%) of respondents saying AI could perform some aspects of their job, up from 38% in 2023. Similarly, 53% feel that AI could do the menial parts of their job, up from 16%. Despite this rising confidence in AI, more than three in five (62%) globally think there should be a standardized system for flagging issues or inaccuracies with AI tools, and 57% have privacy concerns when interacting with AI-driven technologies.
Whilst the survey highlighted some concerns related to deployment, it showed that people are optimistic about AI’s capabilities - nearly half of workers across the four countries covered [1] (49%) expect to be collaborating with AI "colleagues," by 2050, with enthusiasm highest in India (62%) and lowest in the UK (34%). This was higher than those expecting to see autonomous vehicles on roads by 2055 (42%).
The data is published as part of Innovating for our future: AI, quantum and an all-electric and connected society [2], a report which aims to build understanding of the public perception of what such a society might entail. It comes ahead of this year’s International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) General Assembly, where the international community will discuss standards across fields such as AI and technology. Hosted by BSI in the UK for the first time since 1985, it takes place between 21st and 25th October in Edinburgh and will see around 1,200 experts from academia, industry, and government convene to discuss the technical standards governing the most advanced technologies.
Although the survey found some evidence of increasing confidence in AI, global consumers were less familiar with other advanced technologies such as quantum computing. Only 40% said they felt that governments and experts in the field are proactively communicating enough about the opportunities and risks of supercomputing, falling to a fifth in the UK (21%). And only 38% said the opportunities of supercomputers and quantum outweigh the risks – falling to 24% in the UK and 30% in Germany.
34% of people globally were found to be concerned that wider adoption of supercomputing would increase dependence on computing technologies, and 29% expressed concern that it would dramatically increase global carbon emissions and, consequently, the impacts of climate change.
Innovating for our future also highlights public expectations of future technological advancements. By 2055, 41% expect to see AI systems capable of matching or surpassing human capabilities, while 42% foresee fully autonomous vehicles becoming part of daily life. Innovations such as anti-aging drugs (33%) and space-based solar power (34%) are also expected to be on the horizon. In India, expectations are particularly high, with 34% predicting flying personal vehicles and robot police officers (35%), in contrast to more reserved projections from the UK, 11% and 14% respectively.
Support for an all-electric and connected society was strong, with 76% backing this transition, even if it requires sharing more personal data. The highest support came from China (96%) and India (89%), but in the UK, only 54% were in favour. A third of respondents believe this shift could improve participation in society for individuals with specific care needs, and the same proportion supports its role in enhancing public transport reliability and reducing emissions.
Scott Steedman, Director-General, Standards at BSI, said: “These results show that the UK is falls well below other countries in terms of public confidence in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and especially in future technologies, such as supercomputing. The lack of public trust in the UK in digital technologies is why we wanted to open our BSI conferences on AI and Quantum Computing to the general public during our hosting of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) meetings in Edinburgh [this week]. Building trust in new technologies requires robust international standards and high levels of assurance for consumers, industry and governments. In our role as the national standards body, BSI is committed to support the development of strong and dependable market governance systems for all new technologies as the world evolves towards an all-electric and connected society.“
Mark Thirlwell, Global Digital Director at BSI, said: “We have much to gain from the widespread but thoughtful adoption of disruptive technologies such as AI and quantum computing. As well as improving our efficiency and productivity, they have a part to play in facing some of our greatest challenges, from the climate crisis to the detection and treatment of cancer. But this potential to be a force for good will only be realised if there is trust. We have the opportunity to adapt and build an ecosystem that can ensure that these new technologies are appropriately governed, so that trust can be established, and innovation can flourish. This all begins with clear communication and education. If the public are to trust these emerging technologies, they need to understand them.”
Philippe Metzger, IEC Secretary-General, said: “The benefits of AI and other emerging technologies such as quantum are only just beginning to be explored. From autonomous vehicles to supercomputing for financial hubs, these technologies have the potential to transform our lives. That’s why having frameworks in place that people can trust is crucial. This research highlights the important role that all of us in the standards ecosystem have to play in creating a stronger foundation for that trust, for innovation, and for compliance. By bringing the global community together at the IEC General Meeting in Edinburgh this week, we are demonstrating a strong commitment to bring the power of standards and conformity assessment to new technologies so that they best serve the needs of humanity now, and into the future.”
Notes to editors
To find out more about the IEC General Assembly, please visit: BSI Host IEC General Assembly
The full report is available at: Innovating for our Future
Methodology
Innovating for Our Future: AI, Quantum, and an All-Electric and Connected Society aims to further understand the public’s perception of what an all-electric and connected society entails. It explores the perceived risks and opportunities of technologies like AI and quantum in two keyways. First, by gauging how people believe these technologies are already being used in their daily lives. Second, by examining how they think these technologies could be used in the future, and what they perceive as the biggest risks and benefits of widescale technological implementation, leading to the digitization of society.
[1] Censuswide independently surveyed 4,000 people in four countries, in August 2024.
[2] An all-electric and connected society means a society free from reliance on fossil fuels in which people and people, people and objects, and things, online and offline, one to one, one to many and many to many are connected using digital technology.
