1.4
FOR CERTAIN APPLICATIONS
OF AI, PEOPLE ARE NOT
CONVINCED THAT THE
BENEFITS OUTWEIGH THE
RISKS — ESPECIALLY WHEN
IT’S ABOUT RELINQUISHING
CONTROL OF HUMAN LIFE
AND THEIR MONEY
The research explored people’s perceptions of the risks and benefits of different types of AI
applications. The findings reveal that Australians believe there to be significant risk associated
with the use of some forms of AI, and that the risks of these outweigh the benefits, particularly
when it means potentially losing control over human life and their money.
Of all the AI applications presented to respondents, facial recognition computers which
can learn identities through CCTV video to catch criminals and computers that can
recognise speech and answer questions were considered to be the most benign, with
fewer than 10% believing that the risks are slightly or much bigger than the benefits.
The AI applications perceived risky were those where human life could be put at risk —
driverless vehicles (31% believe the risks are slightly or much bigger than the benefits) and
robots which can make their own decisions and can be used by the armed forces
(42% believe the risks are slightly or much bigger than the benefits). Meanwhile, leaving their
money in the hands of AI was also deemed to be risky — 34% considered the risks of using AI
in making investments in the stock market to be slightly or much bigger than the benefits.
Brave New World: Are consumers ready for AI? | Ipsos
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