Four in five residents believe that artificial intelligence needs to be regulated, a new survey has revealed.

But more than half of the survey’s repsondents said they had used AI in the previous week.

Narrative Research Bermuda said that with AI now widely used in both personal and professional settings, many on the island expressed concern about job security and other risks in the month-long survey, which ran from December 5.

“Artificial Intelligence is no longer behind the scenes. It is front and centre in people’s lives, workplaces and greater society,” the research group said.

AI is defined as the ability of technology to take on tasks commonly performed through human intelligence.

The researcher said views from survey participants on AI’s societal impact were divided, with the largest share predicting a negative outcome as the technology becomes more widespread.

The survey received feedback from 248 people aged 18 and above at the time the data was collected.

Findings indicated that eight in ten people, or 78 per cent of participants, were in the “the strongest agreement” that AI needs to be regulated.

In addition, six in ten participants, or 62 per cent, were concerned that jobs are at risk, while 58 per cent expressed worry about AI-related risks.

In addition, 57 per cent of the participants feared the leaking of confidential or sensitive information.

Contrastingly, the researcher said about one-third, or 33 per cent of the participants, reported excitement at AI’s potential — seeing it as a solution to labour shortages or expressing trust in the information it provides.

The researcher said half of the participants reported using AI for personal purposes at least each week.

Almost six in ten employed residents reported using AI at least weekly for work and the researcher said individuals with household incomes of $75,000 were more likely to use AI at least weekly in their personal life or for work.

On the wider impact of the technology, the researcher said half of employed residents surveyed anticipate a positive effect on their workplace given the advent of AI, while four in ten participants expect benefits in their personal lives.

The researcher cautioned that the questions for the survey were not commissioned by a third party and were collected independently.

The results were collected from Narrative Research Bermuda’s proprietary online panel of adult residents, Bermuda Voice.

In keeping with industry standards, the researcher said a margin of error could not be ascribed to online survey results.