Gallup and Northeastern University checked U.S. adults’ thoughts on how artificial intelligence (AI) will affect their lives, their work, educational choices and potential interventions from higher education, government and private industry. Among the key findings of the study, conducted via mail survey of 3,297 from Sept. 15 through Oct. 10, 2017:
— Seventy-six percent of Americans “agree” or “strongly agree” that AI will fundamentally change the way people work and live in the next 10 years.
— Nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of adults say an increased use of AI will eliminate more
jobs than it creates.
— Fewer than a quarter of employed adults (23 percent) are “somewhat worried” or “very
worried” they will lose their job to new technology.
— Nearly half of Americans (49 percent) say “soft” skills, such as teamwork, communication,
creativity and critical thinking, are the most important for U.S. workers to cultivate to avoid losing their jobs to AI. In addition, 51 percent say learning “hard” skills, including math, science, coding and the ability to work with data, is most important for maintaining a job in the face of new technology adoption.
— Fifty-one percent of employed U.S. adults “agree” or “strongly agree” they would need
additional training to secure a new position at an equivalent salary.
