Supporters become sceptics as Aussies turn on AI

Résumé détaillé

Almost two-thirds of Australians believe the risks of artificial intelligence outweigh the benefits, despite the technology becoming more commonplace.

Australians are becoming increasingly wary about artificial intelligence as the use of the technology grows more entrenched.

A report by the Lowy Institute has revealed nearly two-thirds of respondents believe the risks of AI outweigh its benefits.

The October survey found 65 per cent of people were cautious of AI, unchanged from a similar survey in March but well up on the 52 per cent share recorded in 2024.

Some 45 per cent of people previously thought the benefits of AI outweighed the risks to society, but that figure had fallen to 33 per cent in the most recent poll.

It follows a survey carried out by the Pew Research Centre, which found Australians were among the most likely worldwide to say AI concerned them, rather than excited them.

"Australians stand out internationally in their concerns about the technology itself ... these concerns sit against a gloomy economic backdrop," Lowy report author Charles Lyons-Jones said

"The AI boom is itself part of the picture, with the Reserve Bank flagging that AI-related investment could push up input costs and add to capacity pressures."

A series of plans for major data centres to service AI applications have recently been shelved after community opposition, while the rollout of AI has also been cited for job cuts at large employers such as the big banks.

The release of the report follows the federal government unveiling AI standards that could see tech companies face criminal charges if they fail to prevent harmful conduct.

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