Misalignments in AI Perception: Quantitative Findings and Visual Mapping of How Experts and the Public Differ in Expectations and Risks, Benefits, and Value Judgments
Journal:
arXiv
Published Date:
Dec 2, 2024
Abstract
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming diverse societal domains,
raising critical questions about its risks and benefits and the misalignments
between public expectations and academic visions. This study examines how the
general public (N=1110) -- people using or being affected by AI -- and academic
AI experts (N=119) -- people shaping AI development -- perceive AI's
capabilities and impact across 71 scenarios, including sustainability,
healthcare, job performance, societal divides, art, and warfare. Participants
evaluated each scenario on four dimensions: expected probability, perceived
risk and benefit, and overall sentiment (or value). The findings reveal
significant quantitative differences: experts anticipate higher probabilities,
perceive lower risks, report greater utility, and express more favorable
sentiment toward AI compared to the non-experts. Notably, risk-benefit
tradeoffs differ: the public assigns risk half the weight of benefits, while
experts assign it only a third. Visual maps of these evaluations highlight
areas of convergence and divergence, identifying potential sources of public
concern. These insights offer actionable guidance for researchers and
policymakers to align AI development with societal values, fostering public
trust and informed governance.
