BVDW survey: advantages and disadvantages of artificial intelligence balance each other out
93.7% of Germans have heard the term artificial intelligence (AI) before. Of these, three quarters (74%) say that they can explain the term "roughly" (51%) or "more precisely" (23%). This was the result of a representative survey (n=1044) conducted by Kantar TNS on behalf of the German Digital Industry Association (BVDW).
The topic of artificial intelligence is on Germans' minds: On the one hand, just under half of respondents (48 percent) agree with the statement that humans will lose control, while on the other hand 84 percent say that tedious routine tasks could be performed by robots. The majority fear that AI will replace jobs on a massive scale (69%) - although some Studies assume the opposite. The majority (54%) believe that illnesses will be better diagnosed and the chances of recovery will increase as a result. Overall, one in two (53%) believe that negative and positive effects will balance each other out, with 18% stating that our lives will get worse and 21% that they will get better.
"This is also due to the fact that the actual understanding of how artificial intelligence works is very limited overall. AI is a very complex topic where trust must first be built up, both in the machines and in the developers of AI. Positive examples of AI in everyday life, which already exist, help to build trust," says Ingo Notthoff (T-Systems Multimedia Solutions), Chairman of the Digital Transformation & Internet of Things Forum at BVDW. Wolfgang Faisst (SAP), Deputy Chairman, adds: "People still have mixed feelings. Politicians, together with us as an industry, must therefore educate people and highlight the potential. The National Research Consortium on Artificial Intelligence announced in the coalition agreement is a good start. However, we also need a national action plan that is well-funded." In this context, France has already presented a corresponding strategy in the field of AI and announced investments of 1.5 billion euros by 2022.
On topics such as "When machines evaluate people", "Automated and connected driving" and others relating to artificial intelligence and digital ethics, the BVDW has published a Database and a Blog with expert opinions.
