Majority of Europeans Call for AI Regulation to Safeguard Jobs, Study Reveals

A recent study conducted by Spain’s IE University has unveiled that a significant majority of Europeans are in favor of government regulations to address the potential job security impacts of artificial intelligence (AI). The study, which surveyed 3,000 European respondents, found that 68% of them believe that their governments should implement rules to protect jobs in the face of increasing automation driven by AI. This marks an 18% increase from a similar study conducted in 2022 when 58% of respondents expressed the same sentiment.

The primary concern among Europeans, as highlighted by Ikhlaq Sidhu, the dean of the IE School of SciTech at IE University, is the fear of job loss due to automation and AI. The study was carried out by IE University’s Center for the Governance of Change, an institution dedicated to applied research aimed at improving the understanding, anticipation, and management of innovation.

Estonia stands out as an exception within Europe, where the percentage of people wanting government-imposed limits on AI actually decreased by 23% from the previous year. In Estonia, only 35% of the population is in favor of regulating AI. However, the overall sentiment in Europe is leaning towards government intervention to mitigate the risk of job losses associated with AI.

Notably, the report suggests that public sentiment is increasingly accepting AI regulation, particularly following the introduction of generative AI products like ChatGPT and others. Governments worldwide are actively working on regulating AI algorithms. In the European Union, the AI Act is a notable piece of legislation that adopts a risk-based approach to AI governance, categorizing different AI applications according to their potential risks.

Additionally, U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is planning to host an AI safety summit at Bletchley Park, renowned for its role in cracking codes during World War II. Sunak aims to position Britain as a leading hub for AI safety regulation, capitalizing on the country’s rich heritage in science and technology.

One concerning finding from the study is that a majority of Europeans lack confidence in their ability to differentiate between AI-generated content and authentic content. Only 27% believe they would be able to identify AI-generated fake content. Older citizens expressed even greater uncertainty, with 52% admitting they wouldn’t feel confident distinguishing between AI-generated and genuine content. This raises concerns among academics and regulators about the potential risks associated with AI-produced synthetic material, particularly in the context of elections.

The study’s results shed light on the growing concern among Europeans regarding the impact of AI on the job market and the need for regulations to safeguard employment in an era of increasing automation and artificial intelligence.