6 in 10 Dutch people believe AI is becoming part of society too quickly

The Dutch believe that AI is becoming part of our society too quickly. Around six in 10 Dutch are concerned about the trend, according to a survey of 1,000 Dutch people conducted by Panel Inzicht on behalf of AD.

Many report concerns about legislation and oversight failing to keep up with AI-related developments. Participants describe AI systems that begin hacking on their own as “absolutely terrifying.” “AI will be our downfall,” one participant wrote. While another said that, "The people around me seem to be getting dumber and dumber.”

Nine out of 10 Dutch people are concerned specifically about deepfakes, disinformation, and fake news. They also mentioned AI frequently providing wrong information, which was referred to as “hallucination.”

Nine in 10 are also worried about AI taking their private information without consent. Furthermore, 85 percent said they think that AI makes people dependent on American and Chinese tech companies.

Eight in 10 are worried about losing not being in contact with humans when dealing with healthcare providers, government agencies, or customer service teams. “I miss the personal, genuine, human aspect,” one participant wrote.

Seven out of 10 fear AI will lead to fewer jobs. Additionally, nearly eight in 10 are concerned about the environmental impact of artificial intelligence.

Nevertheless, the vast majority of respondents do use AI. Only two in 10 said they do not. Everyone from that group is aged 65 and older. “We are helping ourselves toward the abyss with this nonsense,” one respondent who does not use AI wrote.

Eighty percent of people also said it is unacceptable to use AI in the military. Eighty percent consider it unacceptable for AI to independently select and attack targets without a human overwatch. “AI is frightening,” one person wrote. “Humans are putting themselves out of the picture.”

Two in 10 also use AI for psychological help, such as dealing with relationship problems. “AI helped me better understand where he was coming from and how I could communicate more effectively," one wrote. However, experts argue that it is not safe, and seeking help from a human professional is always better. AI can often tell people what they want to hear, or even make mistakes.