February 29, 2024. This report covers the results from the 17th “Future of Digital Life” canvassing of a large set of global technology experts, paired with a U.S. national public opinion poll about the role rapidly advancing AI will play in individuals’ lives and across broad societal systems.
[Executive Briefing] [News Release] [Highlights PDF] [Credits]
Experts Canvassing:
The Future Impact of AI
Technology experts and scholars contributed thought-provoking essays about the potential impact of AI, what it means to be human and how we may need to reinvent or replace major structures of society.
- Introductory pages of the report
- A sampling of compelling ideas in this report
- Five overarching themes
- Essays
- A selection of future scenarios; how things might play out
- Deep thinkers address the potential future
- Losses and gains: A look at challenges and opportunities
- Specific concerns: Worries about the future
- Hopes highlighting expected positives in years to come
- Briefer responses tied to the primary research question
- Closing thoughts
- Experts answer the quantitative questions
- Thoughts on Artificial General Intelligence
- Research methodologies and topline findings
In its first public opinion survey, Imagining the Digital Future found that Americans are overwhelmingly concerned that artificial intelligence will have a negative impact on their personal privacy and their opportunities for employment. They also predict negative consequences for politics and elections and the level of civility in society.
At the same time, there is great optimism that AI will benefit healthcare systems and medical treatments and bring positive benefits to day-to-day work tasks.
Research methodologies
and topline findings
This report combined the polling resources of international market research and consulting firm, Ipsos, with the long-running expert canvassing practices that have been the hallmark of the “Future of Digital Life” reports conducted by Elon and the Pew Research Center.