What influences attitudes about artificial intelligence adoption: Evidence from U.S. local officials

Area of Science:

• Technology and Public Policy
• Artificial Intelligence Governance
• Social Impact of AI

Background:

• Rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) necessitate policy and legal frameworks for adoption.
• The decentralized structure of the U.S. places AI adoption decisions with local officials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey U.S. local officials on their views regarding AI adoption.
• To identify factors influencing support for various AI applications.

Main Methods:

• Survey of 690 local officials in the United States.
• Quantitative text analysis to examine explanatory logic.

Main Results:

• Greater support for autonomous vehicles compared to autonomous surgery.
• Prior ridesharing app usage correlates with higher support for autonomous vehicles.
• Self-reported AI familiarity increases approval across AI applications like facial recognition and military surveillance.
• Concerns about privacy, information, and algorithmic bias are linked to opposition to AI adoption.
• Explanatory logic varies by gender and prior AI experience.

Conclusions:

• Local officials' perspectives are crucial for AI policy development.
• Public familiarity and perceived trade-offs significantly shape AI acceptance.
• Tailored communication strategies may be needed to address specific concerns and demographics.