The project office for the implementation of the national program "Digital economy" of the Analytical center under the Russian government and the all-Russian Center of public opinion research present a study on the attitude of Russians to artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.
The majority of citizens (75%) have heard about artificial intelligence technology, but only a third understand its essence – 29% of respondents were able to define AI, and 38% – named the spheres of its application. Men (40%) and young people aged 18-24 (42%) are more likely to have meaningful knowledge about AI.
The majority of Russians refers to the spread of artificial intelligence technologies positively or neutrally. 48% of respondents showed their interest and trust to the technology, 31% – neutral attitude, 7% were surprised or showed other emotions and 12% were negative. Among spheres mostly appropriate for AI implementation are science (72%), industry (69%), transport (66%).
The negative attitude to the AU is mostly tied with the possibility of technical failures (31%): 17% of respondents named the problem in the operation of equipment, 8% – getting the machine out of the control, 6% think that the person is more reliable. Also among concerns are: threat to the safety of personal data (21%) – hacking and theft of personal data (12%) and violation of personal space (9%), unpredictability of prospects (5%), lack of knowledge about the consequences of implementation (12%) and bad influence of replacing human interaction (16%).
Russians show a high level of readiness to use services based on AI. The highest level is in the sphere of state services (68%), solving everyday tasks (54%), in the field of leisure and entertainment (54%), as well as in such areas as medical care and diagnostics (52%) and education and career guidance (44%).
The majority of people (87%) think that the government should promote the development of AI technologies, firstly, thanks to the creation and financing programs of professional education (38%). Also respondents think that it’s necessary to ensure the finance support to the companies, developing AI technologies (35%), improve laws in this sphere (34%) and implement technologies in the system of state services (34%).