Feb 21, 2025 12:20 AM
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1074411
INTRO: How would you react to receiving a diagnosis from an AI doctor? Would you trust a courtroom verdict delivered by an AI judge? Would you rely on news stories written entirely by a machine? Would you feel motivated working under an AI manager?
These questions are at the heart of a recent study that examines widespread concerns about AI replacing human workers, while also revealing cultural differences in how people view AI's involvement in six key occupations: doctors, judges, managers, caregivers, religious leaders, and journalists.
Over 10,000 participants from 20 countries—including the United States, India, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and China—evaluated these six occupations using eight psychological traits: warmth, sincerity, tolerance, fairness, competence, determination, intelligence, and imagination. They also assessed AI’s potential to replicate these traits and expressed their levels of fear regarding AI taking over these roles.
The findings suggest that when AI is introduced into a new job, people instinctively compare the human traits necessary for that job with AI's ability to imitate them. Notably, the level of fear felt by participants seems to be directly linked to the perceived mismatch between these human traits and AI's capabilities.
The researchers revealed substantial differences in fear levels between countries. India, Saudi Arabia, and the United States report the highest average fear levels, particularly regarding AI in roles such as judges and doctors. Conversely, countries like Turkey, Japan, and China display the lowest fear levels, suggesting that cultural factors, such as historical experiences with technology, media narratives, and AI policies, significantly shape attitudes. AI-related fears in Germany are moderate, falling between the higher and lower levels observed. This middle ground highlights a cautious optimism toward integrating AI into society.
The researchers also showed occupation-specific differences in fear. Judges consistently ranked as the most feared AI occupation in nearly all countries, reflecting concerns about fairness, transparency, and moral judgment. Conversely, AI driven journalists were the least feared, likely because people retain autonomy over how they engage with the information provided by journalists, unlike judicial decisions, which offer limited personal discretion. Other roles, such as AI driven doctors and care workers, elicited strong fears in some countries due to concerns about AI’s lack of empathy and emotional understanding.
This aligns with the findings of an earlier study on AI managers, where researchers identified initial indications that people react particularly negatively to AI managers, as compared to AI co-workers or AI tools that assist work. This negative reaction was particularly strong in management areas requiring human abilities, such as empathetic listening or respectful behavior... (MORE - details, no ads)
INTRO: How would you react to receiving a diagnosis from an AI doctor? Would you trust a courtroom verdict delivered by an AI judge? Would you rely on news stories written entirely by a machine? Would you feel motivated working under an AI manager?
These questions are at the heart of a recent study that examines widespread concerns about AI replacing human workers, while also revealing cultural differences in how people view AI's involvement in six key occupations: doctors, judges, managers, caregivers, religious leaders, and journalists.
Over 10,000 participants from 20 countries—including the United States, India, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and China—evaluated these six occupations using eight psychological traits: warmth, sincerity, tolerance, fairness, competence, determination, intelligence, and imagination. They also assessed AI’s potential to replicate these traits and expressed their levels of fear regarding AI taking over these roles.
The findings suggest that when AI is introduced into a new job, people instinctively compare the human traits necessary for that job with AI's ability to imitate them. Notably, the level of fear felt by participants seems to be directly linked to the perceived mismatch between these human traits and AI's capabilities.
The researchers revealed substantial differences in fear levels between countries. India, Saudi Arabia, and the United States report the highest average fear levels, particularly regarding AI in roles such as judges and doctors. Conversely, countries like Turkey, Japan, and China display the lowest fear levels, suggesting that cultural factors, such as historical experiences with technology, media narratives, and AI policies, significantly shape attitudes. AI-related fears in Germany are moderate, falling between the higher and lower levels observed. This middle ground highlights a cautious optimism toward integrating AI into society.
The researchers also showed occupation-specific differences in fear. Judges consistently ranked as the most feared AI occupation in nearly all countries, reflecting concerns about fairness, transparency, and moral judgment. Conversely, AI driven journalists were the least feared, likely because people retain autonomy over how they engage with the information provided by journalists, unlike judicial decisions, which offer limited personal discretion. Other roles, such as AI driven doctors and care workers, elicited strong fears in some countries due to concerns about AI’s lack of empathy and emotional understanding.
This aligns with the findings of an earlier study on AI managers, where researchers identified initial indications that people react particularly negatively to AI managers, as compared to AI co-workers or AI tools that assist work. This negative reaction was particularly strong in management areas requiring human abilities, such as empathetic listening or respectful behavior... (MORE - details, no ads)