Artificial Intelligence behind three times more daily tasks than we think
Published: Fri 27 Oct 2023
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly become a key subject in the field of Technology, with its uses, ethics, and unknowns constantly under discussion. With the AI Safety Summit (1-2 November) quickly approaching, which will see global leaders meeting to discuss the risks associated with AI and how they can be mitigated through coordinated action, the IET have released the results of research into people’s beliefs and fears surrounding AI.
On average, the UK public recognises AI plays a role in something we do at least once a day – whether that be in curating a personalised playlist, mapping out the quickest route from A to B, or simply to help write an email. However, hidden touch points can be found in search engines (69%), social media (66%), and streaming services (51%), which all discretely use AI, as well as tools such as Google translate (31%) and autocorrect and grammar checkers (29%).
Our findings reveal that the surge in Artificial Intelligence has left a third of us fearing the unknown, yet we have three times as many daily interactions with AI than most people realise.
Dr. Gopichand Katragadda, our recently appointed President, and a globally recognised AI authority said: "Artificial Intelligence holds the potential to drive innovation and enhance productivity across diverse sectors like construction, energy, healthcare, and manufacturing. Yet, it is imperative that we continually evolve ethical frameworks surrounding Data and AI applications to ensure their safe and responsible development and utilisation."
He continued: "It is natural for individuals to have concerns about AI, particularly given its recent proliferation in technical discussions and media coverage. However, it’s important to recognise that AI has a longstanding presence and already forms the foundation of many daily activities, such as facial recognition on social media, navigation on maps, and personalised entertainment recommendations."
Those surveyed also shared their concerns on the lack of information around AI and lack of skills and confidence to use the technology, with over a quarter of people saying they wished there was more information about how it works and how to use it (29%).
Gopi added: “What we need to see now is the UK government establishing firm rules on which data can and cannot be used to train AI systems – and ensure this is unbiased. This is necessary to ensure AI is used safely and to help prevent incidents from occurring – and it is fundamental to maintaining public trust, which underpins the economic and social benefits AI can bring.”
