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Will life improve with more use of artificial intelligence (AI)?

17th - 24th March 2023

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39897

Total votes

12550

Age 5-11

27347

Age 11-16+

Will ChatGPT…

…take your job?

…make your life easier?

…be something beyond a buzzword trend?

…write this better than I can?

Artificial intelligence, although not new, is now becoming a part of our lives. It could help with a coding project, set up a series of tasks for you to do, or be a friend on Snapchat.

Not that it is without its critics. Or issues. There are now strict instructions on how to talk to ChatGPT. Otherwise it might end up spreading misinformation, which it does with great aplomb.

Following the exponential rise of ChatGPT, as well as the steady increase of smart technology in our daily lives, voters considered what the future may hold for artificial intelligence (AI). They explored current – and potential – uses of artificial intelligence across education, transport, art, medicine and jobs.

Secondary and College voters all considered: “Will life improve with more use of artificial intelligence (AI)?” while Primary 7-11 voters discussed: “Will using more AI make our lives better?” and Primary 5-7 voters decided: “Should computers ever think for themselves?”

Child

Age 7-11

“Even though AI is helping, we can never replace a doctor or a teacher. We can't replace humanity.”

Teenager

Age 11-16

“AI is already a massive part of our lives. If we have any more tech the world will practically be run by robots and the next generations won’t be able to do anything for themselves.”

Teenager

Age 16+

"I think AI will greatly improve lives, but safeguards will need to be put in place to stop dangerous things from taking place because of the AI. People with none of the skills necessary to carry out something will now have the capability to do things."

61% of those aged 7-11 believe that using more AI will not make our lives better.

  • Our voters aged 7-11 were answering the question, "Will using more AI make our lives better?"
  • The majority voted 'No'.
  • Similarly, our 5-7 voters were answering the question, "Should computers ever think for themselves?" This also resulted in a majority 'No' vote, at 68%.
57% of those aged 11-16 said that life will not improve with more use of AI.

  • Our largest voting group (those aged 11-16) were answering the question, "Will life improve with more use of AI?"
  • The majority, albeit a smaller majority than with our younger voters, said 'No'.
  • However, this also means that almost half, at 43%, of voters aged 11-16 believe that life will improve with more use of AI.
52% of those aged 16+ disagreed and voted that using more AI will make our lives better.

  • Interestingly, our oldest voters disagreed with those younger than them.
  • Over half, at 52% voted that life will improve with more use of AI.
  • In the comments, they stressed how far our medical capabilities could improve as AI becomes more reliable.
Concerns about AI gaining too much control over our lives was a common theme in the comments.

  • One of the most common themes in the comments was the fear of AI becoming too advanced.
  • Many young people argued that AI could take over, lead to mass job losses and encourage people to be lazy.
  • Furthermore, some voters expressed a fear about relying on AI too heavily for transportation (driving cars etc.), as this could lead to potentially fatal mistakes.
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Feedback from our Impact Partners

Stephen Heal an Associate from Frontier Economics proivded a response to what the children said about this week's vote on the rise of Artificial Intelligence.

See previous week's results