Forward

Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly evolved from a futuristic concept to an everyday reality for millions of people in the United Kingdom (UK).

There are many new applications that promise to transform how people work, learn, communicate, and navigate the world around them, and even more on the horizon that offer enormous potential.

In the meantime, there are policy questions to consider. The UK set the tone for AI governance when it convened the AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park last year, bringing together key stakeholders from across the globe to discuss how best to manage risks from recent advances in AI. UK policymakers quickly followed up by creating the first-of-its-kind AI Safety Institute to conduct research on how to test and evaluate advanced AI to ensure its safety. Since then, UK policymakers have been eager to deploy AI to transform public services like the National Health Service, where they hope to capitalise on the benefits AI offers for both productivity and healthcare outcomes.

Crucially, widespread AI adoption will require broad public acceptance of the technology. Technological advancements do not happen in a vacuum, but rather take place within a broader social and political context. The public's perceptions, concerns, and priorities around AI will be a key driving force in shaping how the UK and other countries develop, deploy, and govern this technology.

This survey provides valuable insights into the current state of public opinion about AI in the UK. It is promising that a majority of adults remain optimistic about the impact of the technology, and it is understandable that the survey reveals a population that is curious and interested in AI, but also concerned about its impact. Some see AI as a force for good that will improve productivity, education, healthcare, and research, while others view it as a threat to jobs, privacy, and even democracy. This duality is reflected in how the UK has approached AI governance, with its focus on balancing concerns with promoting innovation.

Government and industry leaders interested in maintaining the UK’s status as a global leader in AI should be closely attuned to public sentiment about the technology because political support for forward-thinking AI policies will ultimately hinge on public acceptance of the technology. The UK has positioned itself as a proponent of responsible AI innovation, but this survey shows that amongst the UK public there is disagreement on whether to focus on responsible AI development, even if that means letting countries like China take the lead with a less restrained approach, or prioritise staying at the frontier of AI development. The UK will have to decide which path forward it will choose.

What is certain, however, is that more people are choosing to engage with the technology, laying the groundwork for the UK public being ready and willing to benefit from AI. As government and industry work together to address public concerns and ensure that AI development aligns with the values and aspirations of the British people, they will open the doors to widespread AI deployment and the opportunities that will come with it.

Read the full report. (PDF)