In Nederland blijft het vertrouwen in kunstmatige intelligentie (AI) opvallend laag. Uitrecent onderzoek van KPMGblijkt dat slechts 29 procent van de Nederlanders bereid is AI te vertrouwen, wat betekent dat 71 procent twijfels heeft of helemaal geen vertrouwen heeft. Dit plaatst Nederland, op Japan na, als het laagste land in termen van AI-acceptatie. Ondanks dit gebrek aan vertrouwen, erkennen veel Nederlanders de voordelen die AI kan bieden, hoewel minder dan de helft van de bevolking gelooft dat deze voordelen zwaarder wegen dan de risico’s.
Low Adoption and Understanding of AI
The research shows that almost half (46 percent) of Dutch people show low acceptance of AI. What is striking, however, is that Dutch people generally do not show strong emotions towards AI. Although 48 percent are optimistic about AI, only a small proportion (30-39 percent) indicate that they have fear or concerns. This suggests that there may be a lack of awareness about the impact of AI, as 69 percent indicate that they have little understanding of what AI exactly is and where it is applied. The Netherlands therefore scores low compared to other Western countries, where awareness and understanding of AI is generally higher.
Responsible AI: Balancing Benefits and Risks
Despite the low level of trust in AI, 78 percent of Dutch people believe that AI can offer benefits to society. Think of improved healthcare, more efficient processes in companies and new opportunities for innovation. However, there are also concerns about the risks. For example, 68 percent are concerned about the dangers of AI, such as cybersecurity (83 percent) and loss of privacy (73 percent). These are the two biggest concerns that Dutch people share, although these percentages are lower than in many other Western countries.
The fact that only 40 percent of the population believes that the benefits of AI outweigh the risks points to a significant gap between AI’s potential and its perception. This gap highlights the need for more education and transparency about AI applications.
Trust in AI developers
When it comes to who deserves the trust to develop and regulate AI, the Dutch prefer universities, international research organizations and defense institutions. These groups enjoy high to moderate trust (85-92 percent). On the other hand, commercial organizations and the government are less trusted by the Dutch: 37 percent have little or no trust in commercial parties, while 31 percent are concerned about the role of the government.
AI in the Workplace: Uncertainty and Caution
AI also raises many questions about the future of work. While 37 percent are willing to trust AI at work, 52 percent believe that AI will eliminate more jobs than it creates. It is clear that the Dutch are uncertain about the influence of AI on the labor market, with 63 percent indicating that the impact of AI on society is uncertain and unpredictable. This emphasizes the importance of a well-regulated and controlled implementation of AI in work processes.
Rules and Regulations: The Road to Trust
There is broad consensus among Dutch people that AI regulation is necessary. As many as 78 percent believe that AI should be regulated, and the preference is for regulation by the government or existing supervisors (74 percent). This shows that although there is distrust towards AI, there is confidence in the ability of the government and other institutions to create the right framework. However, only 32 percent believe that the current regulations are sufficient to make AI safe.
A Lack of Knowledge and Awareness
One of the most striking findings is that 80 percent of Dutch people indicate that they are interested in learning more about AI, despite their low level of knowledge. Only 58 percent use common applications with AI, and less than half (47 percent) are aware that AI is used in these applications. This points to a great potential for education and outreach to close the gap between the use of AI and its understanding.
Conclusion: The Future of AI in the Netherlands
The lack of trust and understanding around AI poses a challenge for the Netherlands. While optimism about the benefits of AI is present, there remains a significant need for education, regulation and transparency to increase trust in AI. By focusing on responsible AI, strong regulation and education, the Netherlands can create a future in which the population not only embraces the benefits of AI, but also has confidence in the safety and ethics of this technology.
The question remains: how can we increase trust in AI and prepare the Netherlands for a future in which AI will play an increasingly important role?