New data from the Office for National Statistics reveal a three-way split in public opinion on artificial intelligence, with the largest share expecting personal benefit, a similar proportion holding no view, and more than a quarter expecting no benefit.
Exactly 36 per cent of adults in Great Britain agreed or strongly agreed that artificial intelligence will benefit them personally, according to the latest ONS Opinions and Lifestyle Survey. A near-identical 37 per cent neither agreed nor disagreed, and 27 per cent disagreed or strongly disagreed — a spread that suggests public opinion on AI is anything but settled.
The figures echo earlier ONS analysis of data collected between July and October 2023, when around 32 per cent of adults agreed or strongly agreed that AI would benefit them — so the share expecting personal gain has edged upward from around a third toward two in five in more recent surveys. That same 2023 analysis found twice as many adults thought AI brings greater risks than benefits (28 per cent) compared with those who thought the reverse (14 per cent), while 43 per cent judged risks and benefits to be roughly equal.
For Kent households and workers, the national picture carries direct relevance. Among adults in employment across Great Britain, 28 per cent thought AI could make their job easier — but 32 per cent thought it could put their job at risk. Workers in administrative, secretarial, sales and customer service roles reported the highest perceived job risk, occupations that account for a hefty share of employment across Kent’s retail, logistics and public administration sectors. At the same time, NHS Kent and Medway and local councils are already exploring AI-enabled tools in areas such as diagnostics support, fraud detection and traffic management, meaning resident trust in these systems has practical consequences.
The concerns people raise are specific. Some 72 per cent of adults in the 2023 ONS study identified use of personal data without consent as a negative impact of AI, 68 per cent said AI makes it harder to tell whether news and information are genuine, and 60 per cent cited an increased chance of cyber crime. These aren’t vague anxieties — they’re the kinds of risks that affect anyone using online services or receiving automated decisions from public bodies.
Yet awareness of AI is rising. By May 2023, 72 per cent of adults could give at least a partial explanation of AI, compared with 56 per cent in a June–July 2022 survey commissioned by the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation. And when it comes to daily use, the figures show most people are dipping a toe in rather than diving: 45 per cent used AI a little in the month before data collection, 50 per cent not at all, and just 5 per cent a lot.
Younger adults, men and those with a degree were more likely than average to expect personal benefits from AI, the 2023 ONS analysis found — a pattern that points to a digital divide rather than a uniform public response. Adults who feel digitally disengaged are more likely to anticipate negative personal impacts, suggesting the gap between AI’s enthusiasts and its sceptics may widen if skills provision doesn’t keep pace.
On the positive side, 31 per cent of adults said AI could improve their access to healthcare, 27 per cent cited better shopping experiences and 25 per cent pointed to increased access to learning or education. But 36 per cent said they did not think AI could have a positive impact on their lives at all — often citing limited knowledge, seeing it as irrelevant, or concerns about trust.
The ONS data are collected at Great Britain level and no verified regional breakdown for Kent specifically is available from current national publications.
Source: @ONS