Cleaners among those most likely to benefit from AI  

The survey, run by Censuswide on behalf of London-based law firm Bristows, asked a representative sample of 2,103 people in the UK what they thought about artificial intelligence. 

In a question about the occupations most likely to benefit from AI, factory worker came out top followed by cleaner in second place. Office administrator, accountant/tax professional and delivery person came third, fourth and fifth respectively. 

Journalism was deemed the occupation least likely to benefit from AI, followed by lawyer, chef, care worker and artist.

Other key findings from the research include:

- 62% think they have never been in contact with an AI application

- 50% would not trust AI with their personal data

- 11% consider the Government responsible if something goes wrong with AI

- 42% think the UK Government should regulate AI

- the tasks people think are most likely to be performed by AI are data analysis, monitoring and household tasks

- people are almost evenly split between those who would automate their job, those who wouldn't and those who don't know

- 47.7% of respondent believe AI will (also) have negative effects on society

- younger people are better disposed towards AI than older ones

A whitepaper with all the results can be viewed here.

Chris Holder, head of the AI and Robotics group at Bristows, said: "We have sought to gain a better understanding of the public perception of AI by asking people what their knowledge, attitude and expectations of this emerging technology are, and we hope the insight set out in the whitepaper add to the debate about public trust of AI, which is a crucial one for the industry."