A new survey from King's College London paints a stark picture of public sentiment in the United Kingdom: the rapid advance of artificial intelligence is being watched with more dread than anticipation. Researchers polled over 4,500 university students, young adults, employers, and members of the general public, finding that seven in ten are worried about the economic fallout from AI-driven job losses.
More than half of respondents believe AI will lead to widespread unemployment, and one in five think this could spark civil unrest. “The public, workers, young people and university students are watching the rapid development of AI with more fear than excitement, with real concern for what it will do to jobs, particularly at entry levels,” said Bobby Duffy, co-author of the survey and director of the Policy Institute at King’s College London.
Employer Optimism vs. Public Anxiety
While four in ten respondents view AI negatively—seeing more disadvantages than advantages—employers are notably more upbeat. Nearly 70% of employers said they are excited about new opportunities AI could create, and almost half believe the technology will generate as many jobs as it eliminates. Yet 22% of employers admitted they have already reduced hiring or made positions redundant because of AI adoption, a figure that rises to 29% among large organisations.
The general public remains deeply sceptical that ordinary workers will benefit from AI-driven growth. Two-thirds believe the gains will flow mainly to wealthy investors and corporations, and only 7% think the economic benefits will be distributed fairly. Despite this pessimism, 43% of respondents said they would continue to use AI in the future, while 26% said they would not.
The survey also reveals strong public demand for government intervention: 66% want tighter regulation of AI firms, 53% support retraining programmes, and 53% back a tax on companies that replace workers with AI. These findings echo broader European debates about how to manage the technology’s societal impact, as seen in initiatives like Malta’s national AI literacy programme.
Young Workers Face the Brunt
Concern is especially acute for younger generations. Nearly six in ten respondents agree with a 2025 prediction by Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei that AI could eliminate half of all entry-level white-collar jobs within five years. Among parents, 50% believe AI could harm their children’s career prospects, yet only one in three parents with children under 30 have discussed the technology’s impact with them.
Students themselves are worried: 68% expressed concern about AI-related job losses, and 60% expect the labour market to become significantly tougher by the time they graduate. Three in ten said they would now choose a different degree subject because of AI’s rise. Interestingly, almost half of students view AI as positive for the UK, compared to just 28% of the general public. A gender gap is evident: 52% of young male students see AI as positive, versus 38% of female students. This aligns with a 2025 report from the United Nations’ International Labour Organisation, which found that women in high-income countries are three times more likely than men to lose their jobs to AI automation.
The survey arrives as anti-AI movements like “QuitGPT” gain traction, partly spurred by OpenAI’s February deal with the United States Department of War for unrestricted military use of its technology. While the UK is not the only European country grappling with these tensions, the findings underscore a broader continental anxiety about AI’s economic and social consequences—a challenge that policymakers from London to Berlin will need to address.
