- Technicians fear that MPs do not sufficiently discuss the impacts of AI on employment
- At least MPs are looking at the tangible benefits of the NHS, ignoring the hype
- Concerns are growing that the UK falls between the US and EU in terms of AI strategy.
New research from Teneo finds many UK tech workers are skeptical of politicians’ understanding of AI, amid calls for tougher regulation to protect workers’ rights and human jobs.
About two in three tech professionals (64%) believe the public debate about AI is misinformed, and a similar number (66%) believe people would be more concerned if they understood what AI is fully capable of.
With agent adoption increasing, the report warns that “the next few months and years will be crucial” in determining whether Britain will become a leading country in AI or fall behind the US and other global companies.
Politicians don’t understand AI enough to regulate it
Although tech workers are generally very concerned about jobs being replaced by AI, the study found that MPs more frequently discussed fraud and abuse (22%) and loss of control (24%), while job loss (15%) and the replacement of creative industries (13%) were less present in the discourse.
As for the current situation, workers fear that the UK finds itself in a delicate position between the US’s aggressive investment strategy in AI and the EU’s heavily regulated approach.
The study also found that a key driver of AI adoption in the UK is not economic dominance or rapid innovation. On the contrary, two in three politicians (64%) said AI helping with diagnosis, triage and treatment for the NHS was the most compelling argument for its adoption.
“Our research shows that what resonates most is not abstract claims about Britain winning the ‘AI race’ or broad promises of prosperity, but a more practical argument focused on the NHS and public service delivery,” explained Andrew Feldman, CEO of Teneo UK Strategy & Communications.
Ultimately, the report argues that AI companies and policymakers should focus less on the hype of AI and more on the practical benefits people and public services can gain from it.
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