Optimism about artificial intelligence (AI) is significantly higher in emerging economies, according to research from the World Economic Forum.

The findings come from a 28-country survey of 19,504 adults under the age of 75 between 19 November and 3 December 2021, conducted by market research firm Ipsos.

For this survey, AI was defined as “computers and robots doing things which traditionally require human intelligence.”

On average across the 28 countries surveyed, almost two-thirds - 64 per cent - of respondents claimed that they have a good understanding of what AI is, based on this definition.

However, only 50 per cent said that they knew which types of products and services use AI.

Reported familiarity with AI varied among demographic groups, with 74 per cent of business decision-makers, 71 per cent of those with a university degree, and 71 per cent of those in their country’s upper-income tier being likely to report a good understanding of it.

On average, men were also more likely to say that they understand AI than women were.

Geographic variations were even broader according to the report.

“Good understanding of AI” ranged from lows of 41 per cent in Japan and 42 per cent in Italy, to highs of 78 per cent in South Africa, 76 per cent in Chile, and 75 per cent in Russia.

Reported knowledge of which products and services use AI ranged from 32 per cent in Japan to 76 per cent in China.

While most global respondents agreed that AI is likely to “profoundly change” everyday life, certain sectors were expected to experience more change than others.

The areas that people expect to change the most due to AI are education and learning, which was cited by 35 per cent of respondents, safety, which was cited by 33 per cent, and employment which was cited by 32 per cent.

Shopping was expected to change most due to AI by 31 per cent of respondents, while transportation was picked by 30 per cent of respondents.

Citizens of emerging economies were significantly more likely than those from more economically developed countries to expect AI to significantly impact daily life.

The vast majority - 80 per cent - of respondents in China and Saudi Arabia expect AI to change their life, but less than half in Canada, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and the US do.

Similarly, when asked whether AI would make their lives easier or better, respondents were more likely to be optimistic in less economically developed countries. For example, 76 per cent of respondents in Saudi Arabia, and 70 per cent in Peru agreed that AI would have more benefits than drawbacks, as opposed to only 31 per cent in France, 32 per cent in Canada, and 35 per cent in the US.

The areas that people expected AI to impact most positively differed according to the report.

Over three-quarters - 77 per cent - expected it to positively impact education and learning and entertainment, while 74 per cent expected it to positively impact transportation, and 73 per cent expected it to impact the home.

However, the global public was evenly divided on its benefits when it comes to income according to the report, with only 53 per cent expecting AI to change it for the better.

Half of respondents expected AI to change family relationships for the better, and 47 per cent expected it to improve employment for the better.

Only four in ten - 42 per cent - expect AI to improve costs of living, while 37 per cent expect it to impact freedom and legal rights.

“In order to trust artificial intelligence, people must know and understand exactly what AI is, what it’s doing, and its impact,” said Kay Firth-Butterfield, head of artificial intelligence and machine learning at the World Economic Forum. “Leaders and companies must make transparent and trustworthy AI a priority as they implement this technology.

“At the World Economic Forum, we are focused on multi-stakeholder collaboration to optimize accountability, transparency, privacy and impartiality to create that trust. With the ability to solve many of society’s pressing issues, we are focused on accelerating the benefits and mitigating the risks of artificial intelligence and machine learning.”

She added: “Only then can we gain public trust and benefit from the rewards of emerging tech like AI.”

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