Would you trust AI over humans? WEF report throws insight into young minds

The youth today are more likely to trust an artificial intelligence-run system than one controlled by humans, a World Economic Forum (WEF) report has claimed.

The report was launched as part of a drive to mark the International Youth Day, which is celebrated on August 12.

The WEF drive, called a 'Youth-Driven Recovery Plan', saw participation of over two million young people from across countries, including India, who shared their views on what will become the next normal for society, government, and business.

According to the survey, young people believe there is a serious crisis in politics, especially with regards to climate change policies, and income inequality.

The survey found that young people would be more likely to trust a system run by artificial intelligence than humans. As part of the solution, they suggested greater investment in programmes that help young "progressive voices" join governments and become influential policy-makers, it said.

"They believe that the fractures that have come to bear in society are manifestations of an underlying political problem. Concerns about corruption and stale political leadership have become urgent priorities for young people if they are to keep faith in the political system," the report said.

Still smarting from the effects of the 2008 financial crisis and faced with stagnating incomes, young people no longer seem to believe that they will enjoy a better standard of living than their parents did, the report found.

"They are extremely worried about their financial future. They want to see a global wealth tax on assets worth more than USD 50 million to safeguard social safety nets and avoid austerity measures that disproportionately burden youth and the working poor and almost half of the young people surveyed said they feel inadequately skilled and close to a quarter said they would risk falling into debt if faced with an unexpected medical expense," the report said.

The Davos Lab Survey showed that physical safety ranks as the greatest safety concern among young people, a potential function of the increased use of surveillance technology and militarised policing against activists and people of colour.