AI optimism continues in India – more than half of public say AI could perform some aspect of their job

• Survey of 1,000 adults in India finds 46% increase in number of people who think AI could do some parts of their job since 2023
• Three in five in India (62%) expect to be collaborating with AI “colleagues” by 2050
• India and China have highest enthusiasm for an all-electric and connected society

22 Oct 2024: New research by BSI reveals growing public confidence in AI capabilities, with over half (55%) of Indian respondents saying AI could perform some aspects of their job, up from 37% in 2023. Similarly, 53% feel that AI could do the menial parts of their job, up from just 10% in 2023. The study also revealed that people are optimistic about AI’s capabilities – three in five in India (62%) expect to be collaborating with AI “colleagues” by 2050, the highest of the countries surveyed.

Despite this rising confidence in AI, more than three in five (65%) think there should be a standardized system for flagging issues or inaccuracies with AI tools, and 61% have privacy concerns when interacting with AI-driven technologies.

The data is published as part of Innovating for our future: AI, quantum and an all-electric and connected society^[1], a report which aims to build understanding of the public perception of what such a society might entail. It coincides with this year’s International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) General Assembly, where the international community will discuss standards across fields such as AI and technology.

The report reveals that in India, expectations for future technological advancements are particularly high, with 34% predicting flying personal vehicles and robot police officers (35%). By 2055, 52% expect to see AI systems capable of matching or surpassing human capabilities, while 48% foresee fully autonomous vehicles becoming part of daily life. Innovations such as anti-aging drugs (42%) and space-based solar power (50%) are also expected to be on the horizon.

Support for an all-electric and connected society was also strong in India (alongside China), with 89% backing this transition, even if it requires sharing more personal data. Just over a third of Indian respondents believe this shift could improve participation in society for individuals with specific care needs, and the same proportion supports its role in enhancing public transport reliability and reducing emissions.

Although the survey found some evidence of increasing confidence in AI, global consumers were less familiar with other advanced technologies such as quantum computing. Only 49% said they felt that governments and experts in the field are proactively communicating enough about the opportunities and risks of supercomputing. And only 43% said the opportunities of supercomputers and quantum outweigh the risks. 38% were found to be concerned that wider adoption of supercomputing would increase dependence on computing technologies, and 36% expressed concern that it would dramatically increase global carbon emissions and, consequently, the impacts of climate change.

Theuns Kotze, Managing Director, BSI Group India Private LTD, said: “It’s positive to see the optimism for AI growing in India – we have much to gain from the widespread but thoughtful adoption of disruptive technologies such as AI and quantum computing. As well as improving our efficiency and productivity, they have a part to play in facing some of our greatest challenges, from the climate crisis to the detection and treatment of cancer. This potential to be a force for good will only be realised if there is trust. We have the opportunity to adapt and build an ecosystem that can ensure that these new technologies are appropriately governed, so that trust can be established, and innovation can flourish.”

Philippe Metzger, IEC Secretary-General, said: “The benefits of AI and other emerging technologies such as quantum are only just beginning to be explored. From autonomous vehicles to supercomputing for financial hubs, these technologies have the potential to transform our lives. That’s why having frameworks in place that people can trust is crucial. This research highlights the important role that all of us in the standards ecosystem have to play in creating a stronger foundation for that trust, for innovation, and for compliance. By bringing the global community together at the IEC General Meeting in Edinburgh this week, we are demonstrating a strong commitment to bring the power of standards and conformity assessment to new technologies so that they best serve the needs of humanity now, and into the future.”