Artificial Intelligence (AI) and italians

The European Parliament approved the AI Act on 13 March last, the system of European laws on Artificial Intelligence. This is an eagerly awaited measure as has emerged from new research by Changes Unipol, processed by Ipsos, aimed at investigating the relationship between Italians and AI.

44% of interviewees believe that the implementation of severe regulations and laws on the use of AI is the most effective solution to prevent the negative effects of the new technology, especially to prevent any misinformation generated from improper use of it, an aspect that worries many Italians (65%).

The areas that could be most affected by misinformation include security (false threats/alarms: 34%) followed by the economy (28%) and politics (27%).

This is what emerged from research by Changes Unipol, processed by Ipsos, on the perceptions and experience of Italians with Artificial Intelligence, which also showed:

• Other important measures hoped for by Italians to manage the impacts of AI on misinformation are education and training of the public (31%), the development of technologies to reveal misinformation (31%) and accountability of media platforms in monitoring and removing fake news (29%);
• In addition to misinformation, Italian worries regarding the use of AI revolve around:
  • work, with 87% who believe that there will be at least one disadvantage, mainly, loss of jobs (39%) and the closure of craft enterprises (32%);
  • protection of personal data (that will worsen according to 34%);
  • digital security (that will worsen for 32%);
  • weather conditions (that will worsen according to 28%);
• The disadvantages of AI for work are foremost in the thoughts of Italians (87% believe that there be at least one disadvantage), however many (81%) also see potential advantages to AI (81% believe that there will be at least one advantage);
• Italians believe that AI will lead to improvements mainly in the digital transformation of the public authorities (52%), in enjoying cultural experiences (50%), in doing shopping (48%), in travel and mobility (46%), and in the accuracy and speed of medical diagnoses (46%);
• Younger generations are more knowledgeable about AI compared to older generations, and make more use of it (21% Generation Z compared to 5% of Boomers);
• The 45% of Italians who experimented with AI find the results that it proposes to be very useful, with Millennials more likely to find it useful (55%).

Read the complete Press Release.