Who supports or opposes the use of AI in educational and scientific contexts? An analysis of the role that knowledge and attitude has on the perception of the appropriateness of AI-use within the Austrian population

In this article we investigate in how far participants of an Austrian population survey (n=2302, summer 2024) deem the AI-use in the school and research contexts as appropriate. The data was collected via an online-access-panel survey on digital skills and competences, with a special focus on attitudes towards and knowledge on Artificial Intelligence. Participants had to indicate whether a specific scenario of AI use seems appropriate or inappropriate to them. Linear regression models on both – the school-related scenarios and the university/research-related scenarios – were calculated testing for effects of general technology commitment, digital competence, AI knowledge, experience and general attitude as well as controlled for socio demographics. Results show that socio demographics provide little, however surprising explanation for the assessment of the appropriateness of AI-use and attitudes and experience (in particular concerning AI) only partly do matter.