Why Are We Afraid of Artificial Intelligence (Ai)?

• Main Author: Gherheş Vasile
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sciendo 2018-12-01
• Series: European Review Of Applied Sociology
• Subjects: artificial intelligence; risks; fear; perceptions
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1515/eras-2018-0006

The study presents the results regarding the attitudes of students from humanities and technical specializations in Timișoara towards the emergence and development of artificial intelligence (AI). The emphasis was on the most likely consequences of the development of artificial intelligence in the future, especially the negative consequences that its development would entail. The method used for data collection was the sociological survey and the information gathering tool was the questionnaire. It was applied to a total of 929 people, ensuring a sample representativity margin of ± 3%. The analysis reveals that the participants in the study predict that due to the emergence and development of AI, in the future, interpersonal relationships will be negatively affected, there will be fewer jobs, economic crises will emerge, it will be used to make intelligent weapons, to increase military conflicts, to take control of humanity and, last but not least, to destroy mankind. The results revealed differences in responses depending on the type of specialization (humanities or technical) and the gender of the respondents.