IU Study: Life improver, ChatGPT?
A third of workers think AI technologies such as ChatGPT will greatly improve the quality of life in the next 10 years
A third of workers think AI technologies such as ChatGPT will greatly improve the quality of life in the next 10 years; however, in addition to approval, there are also concerns.
However, in addition to approval, there are also concerns:
- Concerns about data protection: 29.0 per cent of respondents have concerns about data protection when using AI technologies such as ChatGPT.
- Gen Z with knowledge advantage: Among all generations, Gen Z still feels the most well informed about possible opportunities and risks of AI technologies in a generation comparison with 35.0 per cent.
- Regulation called for: 55.1 per cent of respondents are in favour of tight regulations for the development and use of ChatGPT & Co.; supporters are found especially among baby boomers (61.4 percent).
- Insufficient debate: 47.3 per cent of respondents do not think there is enough public debate about the opportunities and risks of ChatGPT.
Erfurt, 17 August 2023. "ChatGPT and comparable AI technologies will greatly improve people's quality of life in the next 10 years." One third (32.9) of respondents of an IU study conducted among employed people in Germany fully or rather agree with this statement.
For the study "ChatGPT & Co. in discussion" by IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU), 2,030 working people in Germany between 16 and 65 years of age, representative of the German labour market, were interviewed in April 2023 according to age and gender. Among other things, they were asked how they evaluate AI bots and what concerns they have.
Gen Z feels most informed about AI
76.5 per cent of the survey participants are essentially interested in AI technologies such as ChatGPT. With regard to the possible opportunities and risks that AI software such as ChatGPT entails, only 24.0 per cent of working people in Germany feel well informed.
43.1 percent of respondents tend to disagree or disagree at all that they are well informed about the potential opportunities and risks. Among the baby boomers, which means the generation aged 56 to 65, the figure is 51.0 per cent.
Generation Z, which means respondents aged 16 to 25, feel most informed about the possible opportunities and risks of AI technologies such as ChatGPT: 35.0 per cent of these respondents agree with this statement: "I feel well informed about the potential risks and opportunities that AI technologies like ChatGPT bring to me and to society."
Data Privacy is a priority concern
According to the IU study, 29.9 per cent of the respondents have concerns that the answers given by AI bots like ChatGPT could be wrong. Almost as many respondents (29.0) per cent have their doubts about privacy when using AI technologies. 25.4 per cent have concerns because they are not sure where the answers from ChatGPT & Co. come from.
More than one in ten workers (12.7) in Germany have no concerns when it comes to using ChatGPT & Co.
ChatGPT: For many on the same level as the climate debate
For many respondents, AI technologies like ChatGPT represent a highly relevant social issue: For example, 29.6 percent of respondents are of the opinion that the handling and regulation of AI technologies such as ChatGPT is similarly important as the fight against climate change.
This contrasts with 35.9 per cent who tend to disagree or disagree completely with the following statement.
When it comes to the relevance of regulation, agreement among respondents is high. More than half of the respondents (55.1 percent) fully or rather agree that there should be strict regulatory framework conditions for the development and application of ChatGPT & Co.
Overall, the study results reveal the following trend: The older the generation, the more often the close regulation of ChatGPT & Co. is seen as very important.
Baby boomers most often agree, or strongly agree with the following statement (61.4 per cent): "It is very important that there is a tight regulatory framework for the development and application of ChatGPT, even if this restricts innovation."
The representatives of Gen Z are the least likely to agree or fully agree (47.6 per cent).
"Regulation of AI can help build trust in this technology and strike a balance between innovation and social responsibility. Since the older generation has more life experience, it is hardly surprising if they are more likely than the younger ones to advocate for framework conditions to prevent the misuse of AI," says Prof. Dr Thomas Zöller, Professor of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at IU International University of Applied Sciences.
For many, there is not enough public debate
For many, the current public debate is not sufficient. When asked whether the "discussion about the opportunities and risks of ChatGPT & Co. is sufficiently conducted in the German public and politics", almost half of the respondents (47.3 per cent) tended to disagree or disagree completely with this statement.
Prof. Dr. Zöller classifies the results as follows:
"There is a lack of clear guidelines and laws for the prudent regulation of AI in Germany. As a result, there is uncertainty and hesitation in initiating a broad debate about AI. To close this gap, policymakers, experts and the public need to come together and comprehensively discuss AI technologies such as ChatGPT. This requires improved education about the potential and risks of AI, as well as greater participation of civil society to adequately address citizens' interests. Only through this discussion can a responsible and future-oriented AI policy be created."
About the study
For the IU study "ChatGPT & Co. in discussion", 2,030 working people in Germany between the ages of 16 and 65 were surveyed, representative of the German labour market by age and gender. The survey period was 14.04. to 24.04.2023.
The full study is available for download here.
With over 130,000 students, IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU) is the largest university in Germany. The private, state-recognised educational institution with its headquarters in Erfurt began operations in 2000 and is now represented in more than 35 German cities. Students from over 190 nations design their studies according to their needs: whether practice-integrated dual studies, flexible distance learning or individual “myStudium”, which combines online self-study and campus life. IU wants to give people worldwide access to personalised education for a fulfilled and self-determined life. In more than 250 bachelor's, master's and MBA programmes, including over 50 in English, IU teaches students key skills relevant to the future. A digitally supported learning environment and the use of AI solutions help students to achieve optimal learning results and experiences. IU is one of the first universities in the world to have developed and deployed its own AI-supported learning buddy. IU cooperates with over 15,000 companies and supports them in the academic training of professionals. Partners include Motel One, Vodafone, AWO and Deutsche Bahn. Further information at: iu.org
The AI-supported learning buddy "Syntea" is now available as a public demo version in the ChatGPT store at the following link: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-P5olqoCPc-syntea