Engagement with artificial intelligence (AI) is focused on the practical benefits that can be derived from its use, but many people worry that AI could diminish the value of human skills such as critical thinking, according to a survey of over 15,000 people.
“People’s engagement with AI today reflects a focus on practicality. Most are not interested in AI in itself; they want to know how it can help them meet existing goals,” according to EY’s AI Sentiment Index Study, which surveyed respondents across 15 regions. But there are clear boundaries around where people feel less comfortable adopting AI.
The AI Sentiment Index — how EY measured each region’s comfort with AI — calculated a global average score of 68 out of 100. This falls under a sceptical to neutral rating of 26 to 74, in comparison to regions with “comfortable” levels of engagement at 75 or higher, which include India (88), China (88), the United Arab Emirates (87), Saudi Arabia (86), South Korea (79), and Brazil (76).