Artificial Intelligence Through the Eyes of Russian Students: Present and Future

The study, which involves 265 respondents, is aimed at identifying student youth’s attitude to using artificial intelligence in various spheres of life and ideas about it. To collect data, the authors use a questionnaire, including open questions and multiple-choice tasks in its main part. To process the data the paper applies content analysis, descriptive statistics and Pearson’s 2 criterion. It is found that students understand the phenomenon of artificial intelligence differently, interpreting it as an imitator of the human brain, a tool or a practice-oriented solution, a certain algorithm or scientific knowledge. Some students do not clearly understand the essence of the term “artificial intelligence” or find it difficult to interpret it. Students associate the main functionality of artificial intelligence with the increased labour or study productivity, with assistance in performing routine; less often, they associate it with creative tasks. However, some students cannot determine the functionality of artificial intelligence or do not see any prospects for its development for humans. Most students, considering artificial intelligence as their assistant, which reduces the time of obtaining data and creates certain conveniences, turn to it to solve their problems often or rarely. They are ready to use only free services or determine the budget for such expenses taking into account the tasks they are to solve. Students find the main barriers to using artificial intelligence in the issuance of standard, stereotypical solution options and the limitation on the data volume. Students see the prospects for the artificial intelligence development in its limitation in the legal field and possible superiority over the human mind. It is advisable to include knowledge of the artificial intelligence concept and the ability to determine its functionality in the list of universal competencies mastered at the university, and understanding the essence of artificial intelligence and the ability to use it in the context of solving applied problems should be included in professional competencies.