A recent survey on attitudes towards artificial intelligence (AI) conducted across urban India has revealed a nuanced perspective among citizens regarding the role and impact of AI in their lives. Despite a large tech industry, India finds itself in the 23rd position globally in terms of understanding AI, with 64 per cent of urban Indians claiming to have a good understanding of the technology.
While 62 per cent of respondents claim awareness of products and services utilising AI, there exists a palpable trepidation, with 51 per cent showing nervousness about AI-driven products and services.
Paradoxically, 63 per cent of Indians polled also exhibit excitement about AI, showcasing a mix of apprehension and anticipation towards the technology’s potential.
Trust in AI appears to be somewhat favourable, with 60 per cent of urban Indians expressing trust in companies using AI to protect their data, and a similar percentage trusting AI to neither discriminate nor show bias towards any group of people. Interestingly, trust in AI’s fairness aligns with trust in humans, showing a certain level of confidence in technology’s ethical standards.
The impact of AI on daily life is perceived as profound in the Ipsos survey, with 65 per cent of respondents acknowledging significant changes in the past 3-5 years and a similar percentage anticipating further transformations in the next 3-5 years. However, concerns about job displacement linger, with 54 per cent of urban Indians believing it likely for AI to replace their current jobs in the next 5 years.
Despite concerns about job displacement, 46 per cent of urban Indians view increased AI usage as a boon for their jobs, anticipating improvements in various aspects of life, including job market dynamics, economy, entertainment options, efficiency, and health outcomes. This sentiment echoes a pragmatic optimism towards AI’s potential benefits while acknowledging the challenges it poses.
“AI is definitely going to impact our current jobs and we see mixed emotions of excitement and nervousness at the same time around AI. And also some of the risks of disinformation. It will definitely make our lives better across different facets of job, economy, health, entertainment and increasing efficiencies,” Amit Adarkar, CEO, Ipsos India said in a statement.
