A Survey of Beliefs and Attitudes toward Artificial Intelligence — Practical Implications and Fictional Depictions

Abstract: The relationship between science fiction (sci-fi) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a continuing topic of interest in academia and society, especially with the recent, rapid, real-world advances in AI research and application, most notably the emergence of generative chatbots (e.g. ChatGPT, Bard or Sydney). For this reason, we present a survey of an opportunistic sample and self-assessment of n=121 respondents regarding beliefs, perceptions, and impacts of AI as experienced in the real world, as well as depicted in sci-fi media. The results of our 17-item survey show that the majority of our respondents indicate a strong familiarity with the term AI and a lesser degree of acquaintance with AI-related technical terms and concepts (e.g., Neural Networks). In addition, participants express in a total of 255 qualitative comments a broad range of opinions and beliefs about ‘what AI is’ and ‘what AI will do’, describing AI at times as a 'marketing buzzword' and in other instances ‘as a tool to help humanity’. When asked if AI will either have an overall positive or negative impact on the respondents' lives, the majority (58%) comments that AI will indeed be overall beneficial, however, participants frequently express at the same time a contradicting view assessing both, the future opportunities and legitimate threats of AI.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Science Fiction, Utopias, Dystopias, Survey

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1004177

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