A significant majority of Europeans are calling for government regulations on artificial intelligence (AI) to protect job security, according to a study from Spain’s IE University. Out of the 3,000 Europeans surveyed, 68% expressed the desire for their governments to introduce rules that safeguard jobs from the increasing automation brought about by AI. This figure marks an 18% increase from a similar study conducted by IE University in 2022, where only 58% of respondents supported the regulation of AI.
The study, produced by IE University’s Center for the Governance of Change, highlights that the main concern among Europeans is the potential loss of jobs due to AI. Ikhlaq Sidhu, the dean of the IE School of SciTech, emphasized the fear of job displacement as the strongest sentiment. However, the study also revealed that Estonia stood out from the rest of Europe, with a 23% decrease in the number of people wanting AI regulations compared to the previous year.
Across Europe, the majority of people support government regulations on AI as a means to mitigate the risk of job losses. The increasing public sentiment in favor of AI regulation is attributed, in part, to the recent introduction of generative AI products such as ChatGPT and others. Governments worldwide are actively working on AI regulations. In the European Union, the proposed AI Act aims to implement a risk-based approach to governing AI, categorizing different applications of the technology based on the level of risk they pose.
The United Kingdom is also prioritizing AI safety, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak planning to host an AI safety summit at Bletchley Park, the historic site where codebreakers contributed to ending World War II. Sunak has positioned the UK as a global leader in AI safety regulation, leveraging the country’s heritage in science and technology.
The study by IE University also revealed a concerning lack of confidence among Europeans in distinguishing between AI-generated and genuine content. Only 27% of Europeans believed they would be able to identify AI-generated fake content accurately. The skepticism was more prevalent among older citizens, with 52% admitting uncertainty in their ability to discern between AI-generated and authentic content. This lack of confidence raises concerns about AI’s potential for creating synthetic material that could undermine electoral processes.
In conclusion, the majority of Europeans are advocating for government regulations on AI to protect job security. The study conducted by IE University demonstrates an increased inclination toward AI regulation compared to the previous year. European citizens also express doubts about their ability to differentiate between AI-generated content and authentic content, raising concerns about the potential misuse of AI technology. Governments, including the European Union and the United Kingdom, are actively working on AI regulations to strike a balance between technological advancements and societal well-being.
