Artificial Intelligence: European opinion divided

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming our societies and economies, offering seemingly endless opportunities alongside major challenges and risks.

To address these developments, representatives from 80 countries gathered in Paris on 10-11 February 2025 for the AI Action Summit. In her speech, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen laid out the EU’s vision: "We want Europe to be one of the leading AI continents, and this means embracing a way of life where AI is everywhere", while emphasising that “AI needs the confidence of the people”.

But do EU citizens want to embrace a way of life where AI is everywhere? Does AI have the confidence of the people? This analysis explores European citizens’ views on AI, using data from the Special Eurobarometer 554 ‘Artificial Intelligence and the future of work’ as well as the Special Eurobarometer 557, ‘European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology’, conducted by Verian[1] for the European Commission in April - May and September - October 2024, respectively.

Key takeaways

• Mixed views on AI’s impact: While 55% of EU citizens expect AI to positively shape daily life over the next 20 years, 35% anticipate negative effects.
• Economic optimism but job concerns: 62% believe AI will positively impact the economy, yet 66% think that more jobs will be destroyed than created.
• A solution for global challenges: While 50% of Europeans agree that AI can drive scientific discoveries to tackle major issues like climate change and serious diseases, only 16% of Europeans disagree.
• Trust and regulation concerns: 84% of Europeans believe AI and robots need to be carefully managed.

Europeans’ views on the promises of AI

EU citizens’ views on AI are somewhat divided: while 55% expect its impact on our way of life in the next 20 years to be positive, 35% expect it to be negative.

A closer look at the sociodemographic data reveals:

• Those considering themselves part of the upper class (72% ‘positive’), students (69%), respondents aged 15-24 (67%) and men (60%) are most likely to be optimistic.
• Those who left education at 15 years or younger (43% ‘negative’), unemployed people (43%) and respondents aged 55 and above (41%) are most likely to be pessimistic.

More specifically, Europeans view AI’s impact across different areas as largely positive:

• 56% view AI’s effect on society positively, whereas 33% view its impact as negative.
• 62% believe AI benefits the economy, while 23% see a negative impact.
• 62% view the use of AI in the workplace positively, while 32% view it negatively.
• 62% believe AI enhances the quality of life, while 24% disagree.

Regulation and AI in everyday life

With AI becoming more integrated into everyday life, Europeans overwhelmingly support its careful regulation, despite the perception of its positive impact:

• 84% agree that robots and AI need to be carefully managed, with 51% totally agreeing with this statement.
• At the same time, 48% support the wider use of AI and robots outside the workplace, while 43% oppose this idea.

These figures suggest that while AI is seen as beneficial overall, Europeans also call for oversight and limitations on its use. This caution in the European public may be linked to a lack of information:

• 64% of Europeans do not feel informed about the potential risks of using AI in scientific work.
• 62% feel uninformed about its potential benefits.

AI: an economic opportunity or a job destroyer?

While AI can drive productivity and create opportunities, the rise of AI and automation raises considerable concerns about the transformation of work and the potential loss of jobs: 66% of Europeans fear it will replace more jobs than it creates. The highest levels of this concern are found in Greece (80%), Slovakia (79%), and Cyprus (77%), while the lowest are in Denmark (45%), the Netherlands (48%), and Germany (53%). These figures emphasise public concern and uncertainty about AI’s impact on the labour market, despite the widespread view that AI is beneficial for the economy and the workplace.

Use of AI in science

AI is being increasingly used in science to collect data, improve analysis and gain insights. However, European’s trust in AI-based scientific research is divided:

• 38% of Europeans trust scientific research and discoveries created with the help of AI, while 25% express distrust.
• Notably, 35% say they neither trust nor distrust AI-based research and discoveries, highlighting the high degree of uncertainty surrounding the use of AI.
• While trust is highest in Denmark (64%) and Portugal (58%), distrust outweighs trust in three EU countries: Romania (34% distrust vs. 25% trust), Austria (35% distrust vs. 34% trust), and Latvia (32% distrust vs. 31% trust).

However, 50% of Europeans agree that AI used in science advances scientific discoveries and will lead to solutions to major challenges such as climate change and serious diseases, while only 16% of Europeans disagree with this statement. Optimism is strongest in Denmark (74%), Sweden (72%), and Malta (65%), emphasising AI’s enormous potential.

Conclusion: balancing optimism and concerns

Do Europeans want to embrace a way of life where AI is everywhere? Do they have confidence in AI?

The data presents a complex picture: While there is optimism about AI’s potential to improve daily life, the economy and solve global challenges, concerns and uncertainty – particularly regarding job security and trust in AI-driven research – are widespread. This uncertainty will play a crucial role in shaping public perception in the near future. If those who are currently uncertain develop greater confidence in its applications, AI will have the confidence of the people, as Ursula von der Leyen hopes.

However, currently, the widespread belief that AI must be carefully managed and the reluctance to use AI more widely highlight the delicate balance between innovation and control, an issue the EU attempted to confront with the AI Act in 2024. As AI continues to shape our future, addressing these concerns through regulation, education and transparent communication will be essential for ensuring its responsible and widely accepted integration into European society.

Charts

Read the Special Eurobarometer 557. 

[1] Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL) & Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD)