ONS reports growing concern about AI in Great Britain
ONS data show more adults now believe AI risks outweigh its benefits.
Public concern about AI is growing across Great Britain, with more adults believing its risks outweigh its benefits, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The survey found that 38% of adults believed AI’s risks outweighed its benefits, up from 25% in August 2024. Only 13% said the benefits outweighed the risks, while 43% considered them broadly balanced.
Despite growing concerns, 36% of respondents said AI would benefit them personally, although 27% disagreed, the highest share recorded since the ONS began asking the question in November 2023. Younger adults remained considerably more optimistic than older respondents.
Misinformation, privacy and security emerged as the public’s main concerns. Around 81% of respondents believed AI would make fake information harder to identify, 77% worried personal data could be used without consent and 63% expected greater exposure to cybercrime.
Nearly half of adults under 50 also believed AI could threaten their jobs, while trust remained very low for high-impact uses such as government decision-making (4%) and caregiving (5%).
Public concern contrasted with more limited expectations of personal benefit. While respondents identified education, workplace assistance and household support as AI’s main advantages, 41% said the technology would have no positive impact on their own lives.
Why does it matter?
The findings suggest that public acceptance of AI is becoming a key governance challenge alongside technological development. Growing concerns about misinformation, privacy, cybersecurity and employment could make citizens less willing to embrace AI unless governments and companies demonstrate that effective safeguards are in place.
The survey also highlights a widening gap between rapid AI deployment and public confidence. As AI becomes more deeply integrated into public services and everyday life, trust, transparency and accountability may prove just as important as technical capability in determining how quickly the technology is adopted.
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