A new survey by King's College London (KCL) reveals that one in three university students in Great Britain believe artificial intelligence will eliminate jobs so rapidly that it could trigger civil unrest. The poll, part of a major tracker of attitudes towards AI conducted by the King's Institute for Artificial Intelligence and the KCL Policy Institute, highlights widespread concern about AI's economic impact.
Key Findings on AI Usage and Perception
The survey found that university students are among the heaviest users of AI, with 77% using it at least a few times a month, compared to 46% of workers. Additionally, 27% of students use AI daily or almost daily. Despite this frequent use, students are highly pessimistic: more than half believe AI-driven job losses will be worse than in a normal recession.
While 22% of the general public think AI will cause civil unrest due to job losses, this figure rises to 34% among university students. Overall, only 24% of the public see AI as a positive force for humanity, and 48% would prefer to avoid it. Among male students, however, 52% view AI positively, and they are the most confident that AI improves their ability to think independently. Female students are more likely to hold the opposite view.
Challenges and Preparedness
The poll also identified problems students encounter with AI. Nine out of ten students reported issues, most commonly factual errors (37%) and fabricated sources (31%). However, fewer than half said they usually or always verify AI output before using it. Despite the rise of AI, 78% of students would still choose to attend university, though 30% would select a different subject.
There is a notable gap in preparedness for an AI-driven job market. While 60% of students believe universities are capable of preparing them for such a market, only 36% feel they are actually being prepared.
Expert Commentary
Bobby Duffy, director of the KCL Policy Institute, stated: "The public, workers, young people, and university students are watching the rapid development of AI with more fear than excitement, with real concern for what it will do to jobs, particularly at entry levels, and, therefore, the prospects for our young people and the economy in general."
Bouke Klein Teeselink, a lecturer in philosophy, politics, and economics at KCL, offered a more optimistic perspective: "With the right training, policies, and institutional support, there is a clear path forward to a more hopeful future, with rising productivity, broader opportunity, higher incomes, and faster scientific progress."
Survey Details
The research compared four groups: 1,000 university students, 1,000 young people aged 16 to 29 in England, Wales, and Scotland, 500 employers, and 2,000 members of the public across the UK. The findings underscore a significant divide in AI perception, particularly among students and the general population.
