Political views shape UK attitudes to AI, job security
Public attitudes towards artificial intelligence (AI) in the United Kingdom differ significantly depending on individuals' political values, according to recent findings from the British Social Attitudes (BSA) report published by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen).
The report highlights that, while some AI applications are generally regarded as having potential benefits, public opinion diverges sharply on issues such as government surveillance and AI-driven welfare decision-making. The findings have been released amidst increased governmental activity to accelerate the implementation of AI in public services and economic sectors, alongside growing societal concern over rapid technological change.
Surveillance and discrimination
A notable proportion of the public with left-wing political orientations express concern regarding the possible misuse of AI for surveillance, especially facial recognition in policing. According to the report, 63% of left-wing respondents reported being worried that such technology could result in false accusations, compared to 45% of people with right-wing views.
The survey also reveals concerns across ethnic groups. Whereas 39% of the general population are worried about facial recognition in policing, the figure rises to 57% among respondents from Black minority ethnic backgrounds.
Concerns about discriminatory outcomes from AI systems used for determining welfare eligibility also differ according to political leanings. The data show that 23% of left-wing individuals express worry about the potential for discrimination in welfare-related AI applications, in contrast to only 8% among those with right-wing perspectives.
Job losses and accuracy
The study further identifies political differences in attitudes towards AI's impact on employment. People with left-wing views are generally more apprehensive about inaccuracy, discrimination, and potential job losses associated with AI-powered automation than their right-wing counterparts.
When questioned about robotic care assistants, 62% of left-wing respondents cited concerns over job losses, compared to 44% of right-wing respondents. Regarding the future deployment of driverless cars, 60% of left-wing participants expressed concern about job losses, while this view was held by 47% of those on the political right.
Perceptions of AI applications
Views also differ based on attitudes towards authority and personal freedom. Libertarian respondents are more inclined to see speed and efficiency as key benefits of AI technologies. In the case of driverless cars, 40% of libertarians recognised improvement in speed and efficiency, compared with 25% of those with authoritarian views.
For all surveyed AI applications, individuals with left-wing orientations reported higher levels of concern about potential job losses than those on the right. In contrast, opinions on mental health chatbots appear evenly distributed, with 52% of left-wing and 50% of right-wing people identifying faster access to support as the main benefit.
Regulation and trust
There is broad consensus across political groups on the need for regulatory oversight of AI technologies. The survey found that around seven in ten people would feel more comfortable with AI if it were subject to laws and regulation, with this sentiment observed widely irrespective of political orientation.
"As AI becomes more embedded in society, understanding how people respond to its different uses will be critical for both policymakers and developers. This research, in collaboration with the Alan Turing Institute and the Ada Lovelace Institute, shows that public attitudes are far from uniform. They are shaped not only by demographic factors but also by people's political values. Importantly, even with the public's diverse views about the benefits and risks of AI, there is widespread public agreement on the need for effective regulation."
Alex Scholes, Research Director at the National Centre for Social Research, made these observations based on the survey data.
Octavia Field Reid, Associate Director at the Ada Lovelace Institute, commented on the findings:
"It is clear that people's understanding, trust and comfort with AI are shaped by their political values and their experiences of every specific technology and the institutions using it. Policymakers need to ensure that the current AI adoption agenda aligns with public attitudes and expectations, especially within the public sector.
"This important research can help policymakers better understand the different concerns about AI across society, including those from minoritised groups, and how these intersect with other areas of public policy, such as the job market and policing."
The BSA survey is based on responses from a representative sample of adults in the UK and has been conducted annually since 1983. The latest results demonstrate that political perspective is a strong factor in shaping attitudes toward both the opportunities and risks of AI technologies as their use becomes more widespread.
