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Survey: Germans want more artificial intelligence in medicine and care for the elderly
Most Germans consider artificial intelligence (AI) as an opportunity and above all wish their use in elderly care, medicine and administration. This is the result of a representative telephone survey among 1,007 citizens aged 16 and over on behalf of the digital association Bitkom.
The vast majority of German citizens see opportunities in the use of AI and consider technology to be crucial for the competitiveness of the economy. In some areas of life, such as schools or the judiciary, artificial intelligence is mostly viewed with skepticism.
Two thirds believe that AI will change society
Only 6 percent of Germans believe that artificial intelligence will not noticeably change society. In contrast, one in five (19 percent) is convinced that this is already happening today. Overall, two thirds (66 percent) are certain that AI technology will have a noticeable impact on society in ten years at the latest. However, this is not a cause for concern for the vast majority: around two thirds of Germans (62 percent) state that they see artificial intelligence as an opportunity. A year ago, the proportion was significantly lower at 48 percent. Only one in three (35 percent, 2017: 47 percent) currently see AI as a danger. At the same time, the level of knowledge has also increased. Only 12 percent of Germans state that they have never heard of the term “artificial intelligence”, compared to 22 percent a year ago.
One reason for this positive development is likely to be the increasing use of AI applications in everyday life. More than every second respondent (54 percent) has already used voice assistants on their smartphones, and another 21 percent would like to do so. One in three (37 percent) used automatic translations via app or on the web, almost as many (32 percent) are interested in it. One in five (20 percent) used digital voice assistants such as Alexa from Amazon or Google health home at health home, twice as many (39 percent) would like to do this. And at least 7 percent have had their digital photos sorted by motifs or people in the photos using an algorithm, and 18 percent are interested.
The vast majority want AI to be used by the elderly and the sick
The vast majority of Germans see opportunities for artificial intelligence in a wide variety of areas of life. Two thirds (68 percent) would like AI to support older people. For example, these can be applications that recognize movement patterns and monitoring health data. In the event of deviations, such as when someone has fallen and cannot call for help, the alarm goes off. Just as many respondents (68 percent) want AI to support the doctor in diagnosing and selecting the best possible therapy. And also around two thirds (67 percent) would like to have AI applications with which, for example, authorities can process applications. There is also great approval for the AI use by the police. 3 out of 5 respondents (61 percent) want AI to automatically evaluate ehealth camera recordings or identify locations with a high probability of crime, for example. Almost as many (57 percent) would like AI to be used in sports, for example to make more objective and fair decisions as a referee. Respondents would also use AI in professional life: one in two (54 percent) would want to use AI in personal training, almost as many see advantages in using AI in HR departments (52 percent) or as service employees in companies (51 percent) ). And around one in two (48 percent) would like to use AI to advise them on financial and insurance matters.
In some areas of life, however, the rejection of AI still prevails. 9 out of 10 German citizens (90 percent) state that they do not want AI support for the care of small children. A majority also reject AI in relationship life (63 percent), for example as a contact person for lonely people, as a teacher at school or lecturer at the university (61 percent) and in the military sector (57 percent), for example to evaluate satellite images. AI help in the judiciary, e.g. for faster evaluation of process documents, is also largely rejected (55 percent). Around half of the respondents (49 percent) do not want AI to be used in political decisions, for example to improve the impact assessment of laws.
71 percent say AI will determine future prosperity
Citizens have no doubt about the importance of artificial intelligence for Germany as a business location. 71 percent are certain that AI as a technology is decisive for whether German companies will be successful worldwide in the future. One in two (53 percent) believe that AI will change the world as fundamentally as the invention of the combustion engine or electrification. But every second person (54 percent) is also concerned that in future the one who controls artificial intelligence will also control people.
Citizens obviously see it that way too – and would like more commitment from politicians. Three quarters (72 percent) believe that there should be binding international agreements on the use of AI. Two thirds (65 percent) want public institutions such as government agencies and authorities to be pioneers in the use of AI. 3 out of 5 German citizens expect that research funding from AI will be expanded massively (61 percent) and that training and further education in the field of AI will be strengthened (59 percent). One in two (55 percent) demands that research and business work more closely together to develop marketable AI products. And 2 out of 5 (43 percent) would welcome incentives to support immigration from foreign AI experts.
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Photo: Screenshot Bitkom survey
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