Are the robots taking over? On AI and perceived existential risk

Abstract Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly infiltrating our lives, and a large proportion of the population use the technology whether they know it or not. While AI can offer significant transformative benefits, this is only true if it is used in a safe and responsible way with the right guardrails. Indeed, there have been several instances of harm resulting from the use of AI without the appropriate safeguards in place. As such, it is unsurprising that there are mixed views of AI in society, where the negative view can in fact manifest as a dystopian view of “robots taking over”. In this paper, we explore these positive and negative views of AI and the factors driving such perceptions. We propose that negative perceptions of AI often concern job displacement, bias and fairness, and misalignment with human values, while positive perceptions typically focus on specific applications and benefits of AI, such as in scientific research, healthcare, and education. Moreover, we posit that the types of perceptions one has about AI are driven by their proximity to AI, whether general or specific applications of AI are being considered, knowledge of AI, and how it is framed in the media. We end with a framework for reducing threat perceptions of AI, such that the technology can be embraced more confidently in tandem with risk management practices.