Make it Digital: Europeans sceptical about Artificial intelligence

New analysis of panel survey data collected during the Infra4NextGen project explores how people view and use Artificial intelligence (AI) services.

The Topline Results report—Skills, Use and Attitudes towards Artificial Intelligence in Europe—examines information and communications technology (ICT) and AI skills, use of AI technology, and the implementation and effects of AI in the workplace.

Analysis of the data was conducted by the academic experts from the Make it Digital theme: Lasse Marz and Anja-Kristin Abendroth (Bielefeld University).

The report investigated respondents' digital technology skills, how frequently people use AI applications, and what kind of changes for society individuals expect through technological advancements.

Particular focus was paid to differences between older and younger respondents, and attitudes and behaviours by education level.

The data showed that only a minority of Europeans are confident in their use of AI tools and are more likely to feel that they can use AI services than they are to actually use them frequently.

Only one in four respondents across Europe would feel comfortable allocating administrative tasks for their own job to AI, and 40% of respondents think their jobs are at risk because of AI.

When it comes to technological advancement, around 40% of panellists think that technological advancement will be positive, with a similar proportion negative.

The report analysed data collected via the European Social Survey self-completion panel survey (CRONOS-3), fielded over five waves in 11 countries during 2024-25 in the Infra4nextGen project.

Panellists in Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Finland, France, Hungary, Iceland, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia and the United Kingdom were asked to complete an online survey or paper questionnaire.

AI in the workplace

The report found at least 70% of respondents feel uncomfortable with AI being implemented in the workplace, with the younger, more highly educated the most comfortable.

When it came to the acceptance of AI in different areas of implementation, a majority of respondents across all countries felt that employers should not be allowed to use AI for internal processes.

There was, however, more support for AI use in administration and operational support (48.3-55.3%) and employee training and development (42.1-42.3%).

The report stated: "The findings suggest that AI still causes significant unease, and that much work is needed to ensure widespread acceptance of its implementation."

The threat of AI to employment

There is widespread concern that AI poses a significant threat to people's employment across age groups and educational level.

When asked whether they think their job is at risk because of AI, concern was expressed by between 38.5% and 47.3% of respondents, with those under 35 feeling their job is least at risk.

The report stated: "Nearly half (47%) of the highly educated employees report that at least some of their jobs are at risk because of AI."

Technological advancements

In the CRONOS-3 panel, respondents were asked what kind of changes technological advancements will bring to society, with focus on technologies such as AI.

Older panellists—and those of any education level—are equally split between feeling positive and negative about the future.

Only amongst those aged under 35 are there slightly more positive attitudes for societal change through technological advancement (49.1% to 40.8%).

Use of AI

Respondents were asked how often they use AI applications such as ChatGPT or Grammarly, to automatically create or adapt texts.

Those who use AI services at least several times a month ranged from a low of 16.7% in Hungary to a high of 31% in Austria.

A majority of panellists in all countries stated that they never use AI tools for text creation, from 43.5% of those in Belgium to almost two in three (63.2%) in the United Kingdom.

"User rates tend to be highest in the countries where respondents are more likely to report high self-assessed skills."

Read the report: Topline Results: Skills, Use and Attitudes towards Artificial Intelligence in Europe

Provided by European Social Survey ERIC