Australians are the most nervous about AI of any country globally, Ipsos’ Global Advisor survey has revealed.
The survey, which examined responses to AI across 31 countries, showed Australia was the top country worldwide to be worried about AI, with 69% of respondents saying they felt nervous about the technology.
Globally, more than half the respondents (52%) said they were nervous about AI, wth 54% saying they were excited by it; in Australia, only 40% said they were excited by AI.
Majorities in all 31 countries surveyed expect AI-powered products and services to profoundly change their daily life in the coming years. While there is optimism about time management and entertainment options, there is also widespread concern about negative impacts on employment.
The sentiment is similar in Australia: nearly a third of Australians think AI will replace their current job, while only a quarter of people think AI will be good for the economy; even less (20%) think it will be good for the job market.
Despite a surge in new AI applications, the percentage of Australian adults who say they know or understand the types of products and services that use AI remains well-below the international figures.
Globally, half of respondents said they know what products and services use AI; Australians fell well below that at 38%. Two in three Australians (59%) said they had a good understanding of AI, which was also below the global average of 67%.
In Australia, only 44% of respondents said they trusted AI, and only 38% think it will protect their personal data.
Ipsos Australia director, David Elliott, said AI has long had an image problem in Australia – people are generally afraid of it, don’t understand it and how it works, and are worried about the safety and security of their personal data.
"There’s a need for mass education around the technology, particularly its potential in increasing workplace efficiencies and improving day-to-day life," he said.
The survey totalled 22,816 adults under the age of 75 conducted between May 26 and June 9, 2023, on the Ipsos Global Advisor online survey platform in 30 countries and mostly face-to-face in India.
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