- Survey: One in five uses AI for political information
About one in five Germans aged 16 to 65 has reportedly used artificial intelligence (AI) to inform themselves about political topics at least once. In the Generation Z up to 25 years old, it's more than one in three, according to a survey by IU International University, based in Erfurt. The private university had asked around 1,200 people representative of age and gender.
"The numbers show that the technology is gaining acceptance. But there's definitely still room for improvement," said the university's chancellor, Alexandra Wuttig. She expects that around the time of the federal election, more people will gather information using tools like ChatGPT and other AI systems.
However, the survey also revealed skepticism. Around 73% of respondents agreed that AI technologies could be misused to manipulate information. About two-thirds expressed concern that flawed AI programming could exacerbate inequalities or promote discrimination.
"I understand the concerns, but I think these values are too high," said Wuttig. In Germany, the attitude towards new technologies is particularly critical compared to other countries. "It would be good if we could also see the possibilities and time-saving aspects more," she said. Then Germany wouldn't risk falling behind other countries.
Similarly, it's important to always question answers from AI systems, said Wuttig. A similar skepticism, like that towards social media, is appropriate. "You can always just ask a chatbot about its sources."
The following survey findings indicate a growing acceptance of AI in political information seeking, with around one-third of Generation Z using it frequently. However, the survey also highlighted significant concerns about misuse and potential discrimination, with around 73% agreeing that AI could be manipulated and two-thirds expressing worries about exacerbating inequalities.
