AI: UK backlash grows According to a report, 42% of individuals intentionally limit the amount of AI they use, primarily due to privacy and security concerns, including some who are positive about AI.
The report, surveyed by Deltapol in June 2026 of 2,055 adults living in the UK, also found that 70% believe it would be difficult or impossible to avoid exposure to AI even if they wanted to, raising questions about how people can meaningfully consent to the use of AI.
Other key findings from the report include:
- People are becoming more cautious and negative about AI. Between October 2023* and June 2026, the proportion of UK adults who think AI has more risks than benefits increased from 48% to 52%, but the proportion who think AI has more benefits than risks decreased from 38% to 34%.
- Although people actively choose to limit their use of AI tools, access to or awareness of AI does not automatically lead to regular use. People choose not to use AI not because they lack skills.
- The most common reason for limiting usage is data privacy, security, and compliance concerns (29%), and the second most common reason is a desire to continue working in the current way (22%).
- Gen Z is more likely than Millennials and Boomers to use AI regularly, but they feel that AI has more risks than benefits and are more likely to limit its use. When asked to choose words to describe how they feel about AI, Millennials and Gen Z say “confident” and “excited,” while baby boomers are more likely to feel “angry” and “nervous.”
- When asked to rate their feelings about famous people, places and groups, people were more positive about the NHS (63%) and wind turbines (51%) than AI (29%).
Professor Kate Devlin, director of the Institute for Digital Futures at King’s College London and co-investigator and co-author of the RAi UK program, said: “Anti-AI sentiment appears to be on the rise and we are investigating people’s attitudes towards the technology. People need meaningful ways to consent to the use of AI: the ability to choose when AI is applied, how they interact with it, and how to opt out where it matters.”
“Employers and technology companies should keep in mind that people are nervous about using AI tools, worried that they will compromise their security and privacy. Our findings also show that public attitudes are not clearly divided into “for” and “against” AI. Many people hold both opinions at the same time. While people recognize the potential uses and benefits, they are also concerned about the possible downsides. ”
Professor Jack Stilgoe, professor of science and technology policy at UCL and co-chair and co-author of RAi UK’s Ecosystem Coordination Pillar, said: ‘Companies selling new technology often assume that those most familiar with the technology will like it the most.
“Our findings show that this is not true. People are becoming more concerned about AI over time, and even those who use it the most are ambivalent.”
You can read the full report here.
