According to a recent survey, the German public holds an overall positive view of so-called Artificial Intelligence, though they are also aware of associated risks. In a study commissioned by the FAZ for the Institute for Demography Allensbach, 77% of respondents identified “progress” as the term most associated with AI, followed by 70% who deemed it “helpful” and 55% who cited “effectiveness.”
Despite the positive outlook, a significant minority harbor concerns. Specifically, 55% fear a potential loss of control due to AI. Furthermore, 53% consider AI “unclear” or “opaque,” while 44% describe it as “eerie.”
Usage patterns vary sharply across age demographics. Among individuals aged 16 to 29, 69% report frequently using AI programs, alongside 25% who use them rarely, and only 6% who never use them. This contrasts sharply with the older demographic; 52% of those over sixty never apply AI programs. Overall, 41% of the general population uses AI frequently, 30% use it occasionally, and 29% never use it.
The survey also explored how AI might impact the decline of general knowledge among the population. Only 19% of respondents agreed with the assertion that it is no longer necessary to possess broad general knowledge because necessary information can be quickly obtained via AI applications, while 71% explicitly disagreed. However, important age-based differences emerged here: 37% of those under 30 believed that general knowledge is less crucial than before.
Moreover, the study found no measurable differences in general education levels between both frequent and non-users of AI. Both groups performed equally well on the knowledge questions regularly posed by the Institute for Demography Allensbach since the early 1950s. These questions range from simple mathematical problems to identifying tree leaves or recalling the lifespan of Martin Luther, and the proportion of correct answers has not significantly changed over those seven decades.
Shifting focus away from AI, a clear majority of 69% in Germany supports banning social networks for teenagers, mirroring the Australian model. Nevertheless, skepticism regarding the effectiveness of such a ban remains high; only 33% believed that such a ban would protect young people from dangers, while 47% felt that the ban would ultimately be ineffective.
The survey period covered by Allensbach ran from June 5th to June 17th, collecting responses from 1,047 individuals.
