MOSCOW, 24 December 2024. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) in cooperation with National Priorities Autonomous Non-Profit Organization present the findings of a monitoring study about the public opinions on AI technologies.
Understanding does not necessarily mean trust
Over the recent two years the share of Russians showing a good knowledge of AI technologies (they have heard about it and can explain what it is) has increased from 36% to 50%. A further 44% have a superficial knowledge of the topic, meaning they have heard about it but cannot explain what it is (51% in 2022). The depth of knowledge grows with years, however its range is marginal. Generally, 94% of Russians are somewhat informed about the AI technology (+ 7 pp. since 2022). Six percent of respondents heard about it for the first time during the survey; three years ago the share of those unaware was three times as big (18% in 2021).
Despite a high growth rate in the number of those with a focused knowledge of AI, trust in technologies is still at the 2022 levels. Today 52% of Russians are likely to trust AI technologies; 38% distrust them (+6 p.p. compared to 2022). The reasoning in both groups has undergone small changes since the latest measurement. The top five reasons to trust AI technologies (according to those who trust them; 52%) is an opportunity to enable AI to perform tasks that pose a danger to humans (34%), life simplification, (33%), AI’s objectivity and impartiality (32%), less error compared to humans (23%), and speed and quality of work (22%).
Russians who do not trust AI (38%), point out errors and failures in the AI operations (28%), loss of control (26%) use of AI for personal gain (23%). Other sources of distrust are possible information leakage (21%), and degradation of the population caused by the use of such technologies (20%).
Where AI should be applied
According to Russians, the key areas where AI is used today are surveillance systems and robotics (81% and 73% respectively; 2022 — 79% and 74% respectively). Simultaneously, more Russians say AI is used in photo editing apps (70%, +8 p.p.) and customer support (61%, +6 p.p.).
Most of Russians have favorable opinions about applying AI in various areas (public administration is the only exclusion). Respondents mainly favor the use of AI in production sector (80% of positive opinions), science (76%), construction (72%), power energy (72%) and commerce (72%), as well as leisure and entertainment (70%), transport and utilities (66%, each). At the same time compared to 2022, Russians tend to be skeptical about using AI in economy, security and healthcare: the number of those who favor the idea has decreased by 5-8 p.p. over the recent two years. Russians are less likely to entrust AI with public administration (53% of unfavorable opinions vs. 37% favorable opinions).
Over the recent three years the number of Russians who think that the decisions on the use of AI in security should be taken in the interest of the majority or the entire society has increased (82%, +7 p.p. since 2021). However opinions on the use of AI in public administration have dramatically changed: two years ago more Russians said AI should be used to make living standards better (60%), rather than to improve the speed of the decision-making (17%) and to enhance economic effectiveness (15%), but today Russians equally point out the importance of the quality of life and the importance of better administration effectiveness (37% and 34% respectively).
…and should not be applied
Russians still assign AI a secondary role and are not ready to entrust it with final decision-making in any area. According to the findings, using AI in health would be acceptable only if the final word rested with the human (76%, 2022 — 74%); and in education, if an AI acted as an assistant to a human (65%, 2022 — 62%). Only 5% would approve of the use of AI in healthcare (28% and 18%, respectively, oppose the idea to replace teachers and doctors with an AI. Russians are more loyal towards replacing the drivers with an AI (40%; + 6 p.p. compared to 2022); 53% oppose that. Face recognition using AI is acceptable only if privacy and data protection rights are respected (57%, no changes compared to 2022).
More harm or more good?
Russians see both positive things (92%) and negative things (95%) in the development of AI technologies. The advantages that were mentioned by the respondents are less time on daily operations (66%), higher labor efficiency (65%), more time freed of routine and repetitive work (64%). Respondents often say that AI technologies will make life more comfortable (59%) and safer (53%). Fewer Russians point out simplifying complex tasks (52%) and equal access to basic social services (42%) compared to two year ago (−6 and−7 p.p. respectively over the recent two years); the number of those who think that AI will help achieve social equality has decreased substantially (18%; - 9p.p. compared to 2022 and no changes compared to 2021).
As to negative consequences, most of respondents point out the following risks: use of AI for personal gain (65%) and the collection of data that may be stolen (61%), errors in decision-making (58%) and lack of responsible persons (57%).
State support is important
According to the respondents’ opinions, the government should promote the development of AI technologies, especially in areas such as fundamental and applied research (50%), financial support for companies developing AI technologies (43%, 2022 — 51%), creating and improving the AI legislation (43%, 2022 — 40%), creating and funding professional education programs (42%, 2022 — 47%) and supporting personnel retraining programs (41%, 2022 — 47%).
Never late to study
Russians still show interest in going deeper into the AI topic. Every second respondent is willing to get knowledge in this area within the next 2-3 years (55%, 2022 — 52%, 2021 — 50%); this is a record high over the entire period of measurement; every third would like to broaden horizons (33%); 14%, to obtain a qualification; and 8%, to improve the qualification.
Russian VCIOM-Sputnik telephone survey was conducted November 21-24, 2024, and commissioned by National Priorities Autonomous Non-Profit Organization. A total of 1,601 respondents aged 18 and older took part in the survey. Survey method: telephone interview, stratified random sample based on a complete list of mobile phone numbers in use in Russia. The data were weighted for socio-demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes to the wording of questions and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
Did you hear, or do you hear for the first time about AI technologies? If yes, would you be able to explain what they are if asked? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |||
| 2021 | 2022 | 2024 |
I heard about them; I can explain it | 32 | 36 | 50 |
I heard about them, but I cannot explain it | 49 | 51 | 44 |
This is the first time I hear about it | 18 | 13 | 6 |
Don’t know | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Do you personally trust or distrust AI technologies? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |||
| 2021 | 2022 | 2024 |
Likely trust | 48 | 55 | 52 |
Likely distrust | 42 | 32 | 38 |
Don’t know | 10 | 13 | 10 |
Can you explain why you trust AI technologies? Up to 3 answers (closed-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of those who trust AI technologies) | ||
| 2022 | 2024 |
AI can be entrusted with the activities that are dangerous to humans (disaster operations for example) | 35 | 34 |
It simplifies and improves life | 32 | 33 |
AI is objective, it has no emotions, no personal interest | 34 | 32 |
AI does not make mistakes or make them less often than humans | 23 | 23 |
AI works faster and with a better quality than humans | 22 | 22 |
No future without AI | 23 | 16 |
AI can self- study | 13 | 16 |
It is used in my work/ I have used it | 6 | 13 |
It is applied in many areas | 11 | 12 |
I have heard of successful results of applying AI | 12 | 12 |
Developing and applying AI are under state control | 13 | 12 |
I am good at technologies; I understand how they work | 4 | 6 |
No reasons to distrust | 9 | 6 |
Don’t know | 2 | 1 |
Can you explain why you distrust AI technologies? Up to 3 answers (closed-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of those who distrust AI technologies | ||
| 2022 | 2024 |
Errors and failures in AI operations | 26 | 28 |
It can get out of control of humans* | - | 26 |
It can be used for personal gain | 21 | 23 |
Data theft | 20 | 21 |
Degradation of population | 22 | 20 |
AI has no morals, no ethics | 19 | 18 |
I only trust humans | 23 | 17 |
It is not safe | 15 | 16 |
In certain areas of life applying AI is impossible | 19 | 14 |
AI has no emotions, no feelings | 16 | 14 |
No one completely understands how AI actually works | 20 | 12 |
I don’t understand what it; not enough information | 12 | 7 |
AI can know about me much more than I want* | - | 7 |
I’ m scared of robots and robotics; they pose a danger to humanity | 10 | 6 |
AI can be biased, can cause impairment of rights | 8 | 5 |
I’ve seen negative comments in media, on TV, on the Internet | 2 | 4 |
I don’t trust anyone at all | 7 | 8 |
Don’t know | 2 | 2 |
* New answer categories were added in 2024
In your opinion, in what areas is AI used today? (closed-ended question, any number of answers, % of total respondents, answers that gained at least 2%) | |||
| 2021 | 2022 | 2024 |
Video surveillance (metro, train stations, airports, shops) | 65 | 79 | 81 |
Robotics | 57 | 74 | 73 |
Apps for photo editing | 47 | 62 | 70 |
Online purchase | 47 | 61 | 62 |
Customer service | 42 | 55 | 61 |
Military and armament | 49 | 59 | 58 |
Logistics | 43 | 55 | 58 |
Taxi | 48 | 59 | 57 |
Healthcare | 44 | 56 | 54 |
Supermarkets | 38 | 47 | 50 |
Finance, loans | 42 | 50 | 48 |
Public transport* | — | 45 | 48 |
Geology | 33 | 39 | 42 |
Housing utilities | 29 | 29 | 29 |
Education (from “other”) | - | - | 2 |
Other | - | 3 | 1 |
Don’t know | 3 | 3 | 2 |
* Answer option was added in 2022
Do you favor or disfavor the use of AI technology in… (closed-ended question, one answer per line per each year, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| 2022 | 2024 | ||||
| Likely positive | Likely negative | Don’t know | Likely positive | Likely negative | Don’t know |
Production sector | 82 | 11 | 7 | 80 | 13 | 7 |
Science | 79 | 15 | 6 | 76 | 17 | 7 |
Construction | 76 | 15 | 9 | 72 | 18 | 10 |
Power energy** | - | 72 | 18 | 10 | ||
Commerce** | - | 72 | 19 | 9 | ||
Entertainment and leisure | 66 | 27 | 7 | 70 | 22 | 8 |
Transport | 69 | 25 | 6 | 66 | 26 | 8 |
Utilities sector | 68 | 22 | 10 | 66 | 24 | 10 |
Economy, banking | 68 | 21 | 11 | 63 | 27 | 10 |
Health care | 64 | 28 | 8 | 58 | 35 | 7 |
Security | 64 | 27 | 9 | 56 | 34 | 10 |
Education | 58 | 35 | 7 | 54 | 39 | 7 |
Public administration | 41 | 49 | 10 | 37 | 53 | 10 |
** new answer categories were added in 2024.
Choose the statement which best describes your opinion … (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |||
| 2021 | 2022 | 2024 |
Security decisions using AI must be taken in the interest of the entire society | 75 | 80 | 82 |
Security decisions using AI must be taken in the interest of particular persons | 19 | 15 | 12 |
Don’t know | 6 | 5 | 6 |
What is the main effect that should be achieved in public administration using AI technologies? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||
| 2022 | 2024 |
More effective administration (lower economic costs, less red tape and so on)* | 15 | 34 |
Faster procedures and faster decision-making ** | 17 | 22 |
Better living standards (more comfortable and safer living) | 60 | 37 |
Don’t know | 8 | 7 |
*Before 2024 the wording was “Increasing economic effectiveness (decreasing costs of information processing)”
** Before 2024 the wording was “Increasing the speed of decision-making”
Choose the statement which best describes your opinion … (closed-ended question, one answer in each sector, % of total respondents) | ||
| 2022 | 2024 |
Using AI in healthcare | ||
It is better to replace a doctor with AI as it can increase the quality of health services and eliminate medical errors | 6 | 5 |
Using AI is acceptable in healthcare if the decisions are taken by humans | 74 | 76 |
In health care services using AI is unacceptable | 18 | 18 |
Don’t know | 2 | 1 |
Using AI in education services | ||
Replacing a teacher with AI in education is acceptable as it can increase the quality of education services | 4 | 5 |
Replacing a teacher with an AI in education is acceptable if an AI is an assistant to teacher | 62 | 65 |
Replacing a teacher with AI in education is unacceptable, as it may damage the process of the child development | 32 | 28 |
Don’t know | 2 | 2 |
Using AI in motor vehicle driving | ||
Replacing a human driver with AI when driving a vehicle on public roads is acceptable as it can enhance safety on the roads | 34 | 40 |
Replacing a human driver with AI when driving a vehicle on public roads is unacceptable as it reduces safety on the roads | 59 | 53 |
Don’t know | 7 | 7 |
Using AI in face recognition | ||
Using AI for law-enforcement purposes is acceptable as it increases the level of security for citizens | 21 | 24 |
Using AI for law-enforcement purposes is acceptable if human rights and rights to personal life are respected | 57 | 57 |
Using AI for law-enforcement purposes is unacceptable as it violates the personal life rights | 18 | 17 |
Don’t know | 4 | 2 |
In your opinion, does the development of AI technologies have positive effects, or not? If yes, which effect listed below is the most important? (closed-ended question, any number of answers, % of total respondents) | |||
| 2021 | 2022 | 2024 |
Less time on routine operations | 47 | 65 | 66 |
Higher work productivity | 42 | 65 | 65 |
More time freed of routine and repetitive work | 47 | 65 | 64 |
More comfortable living | 37 | 58 | 59 |
More security | 34 | 57 | 53 |
Simplification of complex tasks | 38 | 58 | 52 |
Equal access to basic social services (for example, in education, healthcare) | 35 | 49 | 42 |
Lower costs of goods, services, products | 26 | 41 | 38 |
Better well-being | 19 | 33 | 29 |
Longer life | 17 | 30 | 29 |
More social equality | 18 | 27 | 18 |
Other | 1 | 1 | 1 |
No positive effects | 6 | 5 | 4 |
Don’t know | 9 | 4 | 4 |
In your opinion, does the development of AI technologies have negative effects, or not? If yes, which effect listed below is the most worrying? (closed-ended question, any number of answers, % of total respondents, answers that gained at least 2%) | |||
| 2021 | 2022 | 2024 |
AI can be used for personal gain | 46 | 61 | 65 |
It collects data that can be stolen | 46 | 62 | 61 |
Error decisions may be taken | 45 | 54 | 58 |
Risks taking decisions that no one will be responsible for | 45 | 58 | 57 |
People will have no job | 45 | 46 | 40 |
It causes decisions that cannot be revoked | 33 | 44 | 40 |
It violates the boundaries of personal life | 34 | 41 | 38 |
All the education will be online | 30 | 36 | 34 |
Society-human balance can be disturbed | 27 | 32 | 30 |
The threat of chipping people | 30 | 33 | 29 |
Impairment of rights | 31 | 30 | 27 |
It increases inequality | 21 | 27 | 25 |
Security threat / machines attaching humans | <2 | <2 | 2 |
Other | 1 | 3 | 1 |
No negative effects | 4 | 4 | 2 |
Don’t know | 5 | 3 | 3 |
In your opinion, should the state facilitate the development of AI technologies, or not? If yes, how? (closed-ended question, any number of answers, % of total respondents) | |||
| 2021 | 2022 | 2024 |
Supporting fundamental and applied research in AI area* | -- | - | 50 |
Providing financial information to companies that develop AI technology | 37 | 51 | 43 |
Creating and improving AI-related laws | 31 | 40 | 43 |
Designing and funding professional education programs | 35 | 47 | 42 |
Supporting professional retraining programs | 34 | 47 | 41 |
Introducing AI technology in public healthcare and education | 32 | 42 | 38 |
Introducing AI technology in public services | 36 | 45 | 36 |
Encouraging organizations to introduce AI technology | 28 | 38 | 34 |
Controlling the application of AI (from “other”) | - | - | 2 |
The state should not facilitate the use of AI technology | 9 | 8 | 8 |
Other | 5 | 3 | 0 |
Don’t know | 12 | 6 | 6 |
* New option was added in 2024
Would you like to go through an AI technology training course within the next 2-3 years? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |||
| 2021 | 2022 | 2024 |
Yes, I would like to upgrade my skills in this area | 5 | 6 | 8 |
Yes, I would like to acquire skills in this area | 12 | 12 | 14 |
Yes, I would like to broaden horizons | 33 | 34 | 33 |
No, I wouldn’t like to do it | 49 | 46 | 44 |
Don’t know | 1 | 2 | 1 |