An unsettling study by Consumer Reports reveals that a large portion of the American population is hesitant to use artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic decisions in various aspects of everyday life. In a survey conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago, 2,022 adults were interviewed, and the results indicate that 72% of respondents feel uncomfortable with the idea of an AI program evaluating their job interviews, with 45% of them stating they would feel “very uncomfortable.”
The distrust extends to other areas, such as financial management and housing. Approximately two-thirds of respondents expressed concerns about the use of AI in bank loan approvals and landlords’ tenant selection processes. Additionally, over half of the participants felt uncomfortable with video surveillance systems using facial recognition and the use of AI in medical diagnosis and treatment planning.
The survey findings reflect a growing sense of loss of control over personal digital information. Despite these concerns, many states in the U.S. are quickly implementing AI “solutions” without first establishing adequate guidelines. In California, for example, Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order to regulate the use of AI in government and has approved testing of AI technologies in various state agencies.
The vast majority of respondents, 83%, want to know what information is used for an algorithm to make decisions about them, and 91% want the opportunity to correct any data that may affect those decisions. In light of this, organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) advocate for establishing strict transparency and accountability standards in the use of AI and algorithmic decisions. They propose an approach that prioritizes privacy, ensuring that citizens have a say in the use of their personal data, and suggest that both governments and companies provide appeal processes for automated decisions.
With the increasing automation of decisions that can influence crucial aspects of life, such as access to housing, jobs, or even police surveillance, it is clear that the population demands legal protection against the use of technologies that affect their freedom and rights. The implementation of strong regulatory measures is, therefore, an urgent matter.
via: MiMub in Spanish
