A recent study by the University of Zurich shows that people are more concerned about the immediate risks of artificial intelligence, such as job loss or discrimination, than about speculative future scenarios in which AI threatens humanity.
Three online experiments with over 10,000 participants from the USA and the UK investigated how different representations of AI risks influence perception. Even after being confronted with dramatic warnings, concern about real, current problems remained high. The researchers emphasize that the discussion about AI should consider both short-term and long-term challenges.
To the UZH article: “Current AI Risks More Alarming than Apocalyptic Future Scenarios“
To the study: Emma Hoes, Fabrizio Gilardi. Existential Risk Narratives About Artificial Intelligence Do Not Distract From Its Immediate Harms. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. April 17, 2025. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2419055122