Lotus Insight

Executive Summary

In May 2024 we asked Internet users to fill out an online survey about Artificial Intelligence, containing a mix of question types. What follows is AI-generated analysis of key findings from 600 answers provided in free text format.

Download complete survey results.

Chief concerns about AI

• Privacy and security issues, data breaches
• AI becoming too powerful, taking over, or turning against humans
• AI replacing human jobs and causing unemployment
• AI being used for nefarious purposes like scams, fraud, deepfakes
• Providing inaccurate or biased information
• Society becoming too dependent on AI

Sentiment towards AI

• Mixed feelings overall
• Many express excitement about AI's potential and benefits
• But also significant concerns and fears about risks and downsides
• Some have a very positive view, others very negative
• A portion are neutral or unsure due to lack of knowledge about AI

Desired future uses of AI

• Medical/healthcare applications for diagnosis, treatment, research
• Assisting and making everyday life more convenient
• Educational purposes and helping with schoolwork
• Solving major challenges like disease and environmental issues
• Strictly limited to being a tool that assists rather than replaces humans
• Some want AI development stopped or heavily restricted

Question 1: How Do You Feel About AI?

After analyzing the survey responses, we have grouped the feelings about AI into several broad categories. Here's a summary of the results:

Positive Feelings (71 respondents, 35.5%)

Common themes:

• AI is helpful, useful, and makes tasks easier
• AI is innovative, exciting, and represents the future
• AI can benefit various industries and aspects of life

Example responses:

• "It's really cool. I loooooooooooooooooove it."
• "I love AI they are amazing and is the future will support them"
• "I feel like AI is an innovative tool that will increase productivity and streamline workflow"

Neutral, Mixed, or Unclear Feelings (88 respondents, 44%)

Common themes:

• Lack of knowledge or experience with AI to form a clear opinion
• Recognition of both potential benefits and risks/downsides
• Uncertainty about the impact and future of AI
• Overall positive sentiment but with acknowledgment of potential risks

Example responses:

• "I feel like I do not know enough about it to form an accurate opinion."
• "It could be both a good and bad thing. It could be both helpful and hurtful."
• "I'm cautious and optimistic at the same time."
• "It is fascinating & potentially useful, but a very scary concept if used the wrong way."

Negative Feelings (41 respondents, 20.5%)

Common concerns:

• AI is scary, dangerous, and hard to trust
• AI may replace human jobs and creativity
• AI could be misused or abused in harmful ways
• Privacy and security risks associated with AI

Example responses:

• "I absolutely hate it and I think it's a horrible idea"
• "scared and worried that no one is regulating it."
• "It terrifys me if I'm going to be truthful. I think it will be the death of the human race."

The average character length of each text response is 59 characters.

Question 2: What Are Your Greatest Concerns About AI?

Here are the most common categories of concern among users, along with representative responses for each category:

1. Privacy and Security (36 respondents, 18%)

   • "Data privacy and security issues and invasion of home life."
   • "Security concerns I don't want my personal information sold shared or otherwise made available without my knowledge"
   • "My greatest concern is AI stealing and selling my information"

2. Job Loss and Replacement (26 respondents, 13%)

   • "I worry that people will lose their jobs due to AI."
   • "It will take away actual conversation with humans"
   • "That Al will be taking humans jobs in the future"

3. AI Becoming Too Powerful or Uncontrollable (26 respondents, 13%)

   • "That it will get too smart and turn on its creator"
   • "The potential for misuse and making people more lazy and stupid"
   • "It becoming smarter than humans and taking over and enslaving us"

4. Misinformation and Inaccuracy (17 respondents, 8.5%)

   • "That it will cause misinformation. It will be used too much and will really dampen the impact of certain things, like research papers."
   • "Providing inaccurate results, relying too much on AI and not doing own research."
   • "used to proliferate incorrect information"

5. Misuse for Malicious Purposes (13 respondents, 6.5%)

   • "I am concerned that criminals will use AI to commit more crimes."
   • "It concerns me that powerful people can use it for evil and greed."
   • "That it will be used by scammers and those with nefarious reasons"

6. Other

   • "Regulation. It's very important."
   • "Obviously that it would take over the Internet and then the world and universe."

7. None/Unclear

   • "I don't have any concerns at the moment"
   • "I really don't know much about to have any concerns"

The average character length of each text response is 82 characters.

Question 3: How Would You Like AI to be Used in the Future?

After analyzing the responses, here are the 5 most common categories of use respondents suggest for using AI, along with representative responses for each category:

1. General Assistance and Efficiency (44 respondents, 22%)

   • "To make everyone's life easier"
   • "To be more efficient with work and task by helping to do the mundane and redundant work out of people's hand"

2. Research and Information (18 respondents, 9%)

   • "As a information source to get a second opinion"
   • "To help researchers to discover new technologies"
   • "I would be okay if it assisted me in doing some research."

3. Medical and Healthcare (16 respondents, 8%)

   • "Can be used for research to help especially in medical research"
   • "To help diagnose and treat disease and heal people."
   • "To improve healthcare in the US"

4. Education and Learning (7 respondents, 3.5%)

   • "To help us learn and teach about the world"
   • "Only for school and work assignments."
   • "In helping in schools and help with spelling"

5. Entertainment and Leisure (4 respondents, 2%)

   • "I like it to be used for entertainment right now"
   • "I would like for it to be used in shopping and also in fast food"

6. Other

   • "To predict bad upcoming historical events."
   • "To produce unimaginable abundance for mankind."

7. None/Unclear

   • "I don't know what I would like to be used for in the future cuz I don't know anything about it"
   • "I have no idea how AI should be used in the future."
   • "I really don't know to be honest about the situation"

The average character length of each text response is 61 characters.

Conclusions

In summary, the respondents demonstrate a mix of optimism and concern regarding AI. While many see great potential, there are significant worries about the societal implications, especially around privacy, security, jobs, and AI becoming too powerful. Desired applications center on medicine, education, and assistive tools, while many want strict limitations on AI's role to prevent negative consequences. More public education on AI may help inform opinions.