Originally published in TechUK.
There is a gaping chasm between how those working in tech and most people in Britain view AI today. The general public don’t appreciate either the disruptive or transformative power it will have. Unless we find a way of bridging that gap and selling people on the power of AI to improve their lives, the country is heading for trouble.
This week is London Tech Week and 30,000 people are gathering at one of the most exciting points of history to discuss the revolution that is coming. We are entering the AI age and it will transform our lives, and do so rapidly. The problem is that 30,000 represents less than 0.05% of the UK population.
We saw with Brexit the challenges of a divided nation with separate conversations going on between those at the heart of the business community in London and at the top of universities and institutions - and those in the country at large.
AI is one of the most important political issues this country will face in our generation, probably the most important issue, aside from defence, and there is obvious overlap there. If we harness it well, it has the ability to meet many of the challenges around growth, quality of life and public services, that successive governments have not managed to find an answer to.
At the same time though, it will create huge social dilemmas and substantial challenges, not just the current ones we have seen around Intellectual Property and online safety, but even more fundamental with significant labour market upheaval, and a complete recalibration of the skills the country will need to succeed.
We will have to make bold calls on how we invest as a country, and in what, if the UK is not to be left behind. Our policy and regulatory structures will all need to adjust to incorporate AI, not just as an adjunct but as something that is mainstreamed through everything.
Research FGS Global carried out earlier this year found that 35% of the UK population think, AI will never really come to much and its impact will turn out to have been massively exaggerated. Within this context, only 32% of people believe that AI will positively transform our lives, making humans better off and having to work less. While only one fifth of the UK population thinks that AI will have a positive impact on quality of life (21%), standard of living (17%) and job opportunities (17%). Even on healthcare and life expectancy, the public remains broadly sceptical with only 39% thinking AI will positively impact this area.
This scepticism and lack of understanding should concern all of us deeply. Our ability as a country to thrive and capitalise on the developments of AI depends on adoption. We are not going to be able to succeed as a country without winning the general public over to the benefits AI offers. Communication is critical to getting people on board.
We have to educate and sell people on the practical difference that embracing technological innovation is going to make in their day-to-day lives and make it real and concrete for people. We need to win public trust not just to create the necessary policy, legal and regulatory frameworks, but also to get buy-in for the physical infrastructure and investment that is needed for us to lead on adoption, explaining why we need to build more data centres and to expand our 5G capabilities.
There is a big challenge around the language and framing that we use. It can make a big difference in how people feel about AI. An example of this is when you look at driverless cars. FGS Global’s research found if you use the phrase “robot brain”, only 5% of people feel reassured about the concept of it, but if you talk about self-driving that increases to 16%. Still not a ringing endorsement, but it illustrates the challenge of how to humanise these technologies as well as how we talk about them.
Communication is increasingly critical to the UK’s competitiveness. Markets like India and China are moving ahead on adoption and we have to keep up. We need a proper conversation as a country that connects, educates and involves everyone on these issues. Business and politicians alike both have a responsibility to make that happen. London Tech Week is a brilliant showcase of the innovative powerhouse this country is, but we need a ‘National Tech Future’ with everyone on board if we are to succeed as a country.
