SIENNA D4.5 Public views on artificial intelligence and robots across 11 EU and non-EU countries

Based on a telephone survey of 1,000 people in each of 11 countries (EU: France, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden; non-EU: Brazil, South Africa, South Korea, USA), this report provides a snapshot of opinions in 2019 on intelligent machines and their impact on society. Across most countries, most people had heard of robotic and AI applications, though relatively small proportions felt well-informed. In most countries, people anticipated widescale changes over the next 20 years in development of the capabilities of intelligent machines and their effect on societies. People also recognised that these technologies brought risks. In most countries, people were more negative than positive about the potential for robots to take on more human features, and for more widespread use of intelligent machines to widen inequalities and result in people having less control. Despite this, people were on balance more positive than negative about the overall impact of  intelligent machines in society. There were wide variations by country, with South Korea and Brazil most positive, and South Africa most polarised. No single country stood as especially negative, though France, Greece, Spain and Germany were all more negative than average on two or more 
measures.