MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – A new poll from the University of New Hampshire finds that a majority of Vermonters are concerned about the rise of artificial intelligence and its impact on jobs, relationships and elections.
Chris Wright, a bassist from Barre, is upset that country music created by artificial intelligence is topping the charts.
“I believe in using your talents and thoughts for music and putting real life on paper, not something contrived,” Wright said.
Some see AI as a game-changer with the potential to transform the economy through increased productivity, automation, and breakthroughs in healthcare. But some have deeper concerns about what is real and what is AI.
“To me, that makes the difference, ‘Is this real news or is this fake news?'” said Chris Richardson of White River Junction.
A new University of New Hampshire poll reveals contradictory opinions.
“There is great promise for the expansion of AI businesses, but there are great concerns about what that means,” said Andy Smith of the UNH Research Center.
The poll found that although two-thirds of Vermonters use AI from time to time, only a quarter believe AI will have a positive impact on the country over the next 10 years.
A majority of Vermonters expect AI to negatively impact the country over the next decade, including in personal relationships, elections, and news.
Even though younger Vermonters use AI more than older Vermonters, 75% of young people think AI will have a negative impact, compared to 50% of older Vermonters.
“This is counterintuitive in some ways, but I think a lot of it is the fear that young people have about potentially losing their jobs in the future. If you’re over 65, you’re less worried about whether you’re going to lose your job to AI,” Smith said.
Click here for the full UNH Research Center poll.
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