A recent poll conducted by University of Maryland, Baltimore County shows that 58% of Marylanders believe artificial intelligence will have a negative impact on society.
But that skepticism isn’t stopping participants from using the technology in their daily lives. When asked about personal use of AI, 43% of participants say they use AI on a weekly basis and an additional 9% use it multiple times a month.
The poll surveyed 810 Maryland residents, including 757 registered voters on their thoughts on AI and its potential impacts. The poll found that nearly all of the participants had at least some familiarity with AI.
The poll broke down areas of concern into categories. Of those polled, 81% of respondents reported that they are very concerned about the use of AI to spread political misinformation and propaganda.
Additionally, 78% said they are concerned about identity theft and impersonation. A majority of participants also reported concern about educational and environmental impact, decline in personal connections and replacement of human jobs.
The unease over the impacts of AI transcends traditional divides. According to the poll, concern is widespread across party-lines, generations and gender and racial demographics.