Zeitzoff, Zilinsky: Banner against technology is not good politics – Daily Independent

By Thomas Zaitsof and Jan Zylinski

Should you delete your social media apps? Some people have book-length arguments for you if you want to say yes.

Should you also avoid ChatGPT? Again, some will urge you to do just that.

“Retain your humanity,” they will plead. Unlike apps with algorithmic timelines or a hard-to-turn-off “About You” page, the latest technology looks like it could be a great time saver. And nobody likes to waste their time.

Most people agree that technology can be helpful on this front. In a recent survey, nearly seven in 10 Americans said that “computers and machines can help us do tasks that are too boring for humans.” And 52% of respondents also strongly or somewhat agreed that “artificial intelligence has the potential to significantly improve our lives.”

Americans tend to hold ambivalent or conflicted views about technology—many appreciate its benefits but also harbor fears. A small majority are concerned that scientists are designing software that could potentially harm people. When it comes to AI as an existential threat, 40% see it as a threat to humanity, 27% are unsure, and 33% do not see AI as a threat. (This is consistent with previous surveys.)

We identified three components of general technology orientation involving attitudes toward social media (concern with surveillance, loneliness, or politics made more unpleasant by social media); pessimism (or optimism) about artificial intelligence; and a general view of modernity (supporting views such as “modern technology prevents us from living in harmony with nature” or that we have “allowed modern technology such as smartphones to take over our lives”).

The data shows that most people fall in the middle of the spectrum rather than fearing change.

However, some people are generally pessimistic about technology and more broadly about democracy and other people. (Notably, loneliness and anti-power attitudes were predictors of negative views of technology.)

Views on technology only correlate with support for policy issues such as cracking down on Big Tech or government regulation of AI, but they are a stronger predictor of policy positions than partisanship. General attitudes toward technology explain support for experimental but no longer hypothetical tools such as brain chip implants, self-driving cars, or the use of facial recognition by law enforcement.

Our study also includes an experiment to examine the persuasiveness of arguments for and against AI. Our 1,350 participants rated pairs of contrasting arguments. Each respondent saw three pairs of arguments, one in favor of AI and the other against it, to determine which was more persuasive. There were 10 arguments – five in favor of AI and five against it.

Arguments in favor of AI include points such as AI’s potential to accelerate medical research and improve early disease diagnosis, its ability to rapidly perform repetitive tasks to free up humans for more creative work, and the potential to revolutionize education through personalized learning experiences. In contrast, arguments against AI highlight concerns such as AI’s potential to replace human jobs, leading to unemployment and economic inequality; the risk of AI data misuse; and the ethical issues surrounding the use of AI in military applications, deep counterfeiting, and surveillance systems.

The findings show that the arguments against AI are slightly more persuasive, reflecting general skepticism. The most compelling argument, however, was pro-AI, emphasizing the medical benefits of AI to improve research and diagnosis. Although people are wary of embracing new technologies like AI, they are persuasive, especially when the technology is framed in terms of tangible benefits such as medical advances or easing mundane tasks. On the other hand, concerns about job displacement, privacy and the potential degradation of human skills lead to skepticism.

While anti-technology sentiment exists among a minority of voters, our results suggest that people generally recognize technology as a set of benefits mixed with negative qualities and byproducts. Therefore, political agendas based on comprehensive anti-technology platforms are unlikely to gain widespread traction. Voters want a more balanced approach that recognizes the benefits and potential pitfalls of new technologies.

Editor’s note: Thomas Zaitzoff is a professor in the School of Public Affairs at American University. Jan Žilinski is a postdoctoral fellow at the Munich School of Politics and Public Policy. Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcome [email protected].