Australians see AI as a risk, but not for the reasons you might think

"Dig into what people actually worry about and the anxiety is not the machines and not, first, their jobs, " Cameron remarked.

Key points

• Cameron additionally pointed to almost a third of the respondents (29 percent) worrying that AI would create harmful decisions without human oversight.
• The unlawful scheme did not involve AI but relied on automated decision-making without appropriate human oversight, leading to a catastrophic impact on vulnerable Australians.
• "The top concern – and the top thing people want regulated by government – is misinformation and deepfakes, with privacy and data misuse close behind, " he remarked.

"The top concern – and the top thing people want regulated by government – is misinformation and deepfakes, with privacy and data misuse close behind, " he remarked. "Job losses rank below both."

This analysis comes after former Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers informed POLITICO that Australia's next election, anticipated between late 2027 and early 2028, would be subject to an unprecedented level of AI mis- and disinformation.

Rogers remarked publicly available digital literacy programs needed to be scaled up to combat the threat – with legislating and moderating secondary to educating citizens concerning deepfakes and other AI-generated content.

Australians are particularly wary of automated decision-making within administration after a yearslong scheme, known as Robodebt, was employed to generate false debts against hundreds of thousands of individuals who received income backing payments.

Meanwhile, the unlawful scheme did not involve AI but relied on automated decision-making without appropriate human oversight, leading to a catastrophic impact on vulnerable Australians.

"AI isn't rejected; it's regarded warily on specific grounds by people who can also identify what it's good for, " Cameron remarked, pointing to recognition by respondents that AI could advance medicine, health care, science and innovation. >Adam Schiff on Democrats' 'losing message, ' AOC and AIPAC<!–>.

For now, australians see AI as a risk, but not for the reasons you remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.