The AI knowledge gap and how to close it | Computer Weekly

Most people show low anxiety about AI and high confidence in using it. Survey results from 6,000 respondents across Europe indicate that 77% are not worried about AI’s growing role, and 57% of UK respondents feel confident using it already. Despite this comfort, only 33% recognize that they use AI-powered services or applications daily, while 18% report never using them, rising to 28% in the UK. AI is embedded across digital life, including smartphone and smartwatch apps, email and calendar, recommendations for streaming and shopping, navigation, and health monitoring. AI also supports advanced capabilities such as designing drug molecules that reach clinical trials in under 18 months.

"Most people aren't afraid of AI. In fact, confidence is high and anxiety is low. But dig a little deeper and a more complicated picture emerges. Because, while people feel comfortable with AI in the abstract, most fail to recognise it even in their own daily lives. This is the AI Knowledge Gap. Not a fear of the future, but a blindness to the present. And if we don't close it urgently and deliberately we risk squandering the most significant technological moment of our lifetimes, with knock-on effects for IT skills and the development of AI in the economy."

"Drilling down into data collected from 6,000 respondents across Europe, Equinix found that 77% of those surveyed weren't worried about the growing role of AI, with 57% of UK people feeling confident about using it already. All of which suggests that AI is being widely embraced, and will continue to be adopted quickly. But the survey also identified a clear knowledge gap. Only 33% of respondents recognised that they use AI-powered services or applications daily, and 18% said they never use them at all, rising to 28% in the UK."

"It is a misconception to believe AI only impacts your life when you actively log onto an LLM. AI has been embedded into all walks of digital life. It powers apps on your smartphone or smartwatch and is embedded in your email and calendar. It suggests what you might want to stream or buy online, it navigates your fastest route home, and even monitors your health. AI supports countless digital services that many consumers now take for granted."

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