Almost half of European citizens fear that artificial intelligence will eliminate jobs, according to a survey conducted by the insurer Allianz across six European countries. Just under half of the respondents, 46 percent, expect that artificial intelligence will reduce the number of jobs, according to the Allianz Research survey.
Only a third believe that new technology could create new jobs. The survey was conducted among nearly 6.300 citizens in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, and Austria. Half of the respondents believe that artificial intelligence deepens the skills gap and inequality, while roughly one-fifth are optimistic about its potential benefits.
“Citizens in many European countries are uneasy about the rapid changes and are therefore skeptical about artificial intelligence,” said Allianz researcher Arne Holzhausen. Experts, however, anticipate significant economic benefits. “It is crucial that companies use AI tools to complement and expand workers’ skills, rather than using them as a replacement (for people),” said Holzhausen.
In fact, the technology has been developed at the right time, considering the demographic challenges and the shortage of skilled workers in many countries and sectors, says Holzhausen. AI could help address these issues by improving productivity and automating routine tasks, he adds.
