38% of Britons see AI as economic risk, threatening UK’s AI ambitions

A new poll from the Tony Blair Institute reveals that 38% of Britons view artificial intelligence as an economic risk, nearly double the 20% who see it as an opportunity. The findings threaten Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s ambition to make the UK an AI “superpower” and highlight a critical trust gap that could undermine the country’s AI adoption strategy.

The big picture: The UK government has positioned AI as central to its economic growth strategy, but public skepticism could derail these plans before they gain momentum.

• Jakob Mökander from the Tony Blair Institute, a policy research organization, warns that the UK’s path to AI superpower status depends on becoming a “world-leading adopter” rather than competing with the US and China in development.
• “The UK will not become an AI superpower in those terms unless the government manages to build broad public trust in the technology,” Mökander said.

Key polling data: The survey of more than 3,700 adults reveals stark divisions in public perception of AI technology.

• Lack of trust emerged as the biggest barrier to AI adoption across all demographics.
• More than half of people who haven’t used AI view it as a risk, while only a quarter of regular AI users see it as threatening.
• The gap suggests that hands-on experience with AI tools significantly shifts public attitudes.

What’s at stake: The economic implications extend far beyond public opinion, with forecasts predicting major workforce disruption.

• The Tony Blair Institute estimates AI could displace between 1 million and 3 million private sector jobs in the UK, though new roles will also be created.
• The government expects about 10 million workers to use AI in their daily roles by 2035, making workforce preparation essential.
• Despite predictions, sectors like graduate recruitment haven’t yet shown serious AI impact, according to recruitment agents.

Building trust: The thinktank outlined five recommendations to shift public perception and increase AI adoption.

• Increase public use of AI through accessible programs and initiatives.
• Highlight helpful applications like reducing NHS wait times or improving work-life balance through job efficiency.
• Measure AI’s beneficial impact in ways people can relate to and understand.
• Implement responsible regulation to ensure safety and reliability.
• Launch comprehensive programs to build AI skills across the workforce.

What they’re saying: Mökander drew parallels to public health campaigns when explaining the trust-building challenge.

• “You need to have rules and regulations around vaccines to make them safe. Then the government needs to shape healthy public attitudes by educating people and having positive campaigns.”
• A UK government spokesperson acknowledged that “public trust is a critical factor in using AI,” noting that initiatives have been launched to build skills and increase adoption.