New research has revealed that Scottish people are largely unhappy with the level of transparency around artificial intelligence.

An opinion poll conducted by YouGov on behalf of AI and data company Synthesized found that only 2% of people residing in Scotland believe that the technology is being developed in a trustworthy manner .

In addition, 77% said that organisations need to be more transparent with how AI is used to make decisions. The survey found that 37% of people lack trust in how AI is being used in Scotland.

The research uncovered divides in the trust placed in AI. Younger people tend to trust AI more than older people – 30% of 18-34-year-olds against 17% of over 55s. In addition, 49% of 18-24-year-olds, and 46% of 25-34-year-olds agreed that, should AI be used ethically and responsibly, the technology could help make society fairer, more prosperous, and environmentally friendly.

However, the research also found that under 5% of people who used social media, one of the places that AI is frequently used, strongly agreed they trusted the way AI was being used and developed.

While undoubtedly a powerful tool with the potential to radically change society, AI can also have negative impacts on our world. These issues include eroding trust and inclusion, and adversely affecting children and young people.

AI and automated systems have the power to violate people’s privacy, discriminate against vulnerable or minority demographics, and make life-changing decisions for people without their understanding.

CEO of Synthesized Nicolai Baldin said: “This poll shows a significant lack of trust in Scotland at the way AI is being developed and people in Scotland are not alone in feeling like this.

“These findings provide strong evidence of the importance of societal trust in the way AI is used, and the poll should come as a shot across the bows for the sector globally. It is a challenge the industry needs to address, by building trust and showing people the need for, and benefits of, responsible AI.

“Businesses need to focus on proving their ethical use of artificial intelligence. There are countless important and beneficial uses emerging every day for AI – from Siri and Alexa to healthcare robots and driverless cars. But we must be conscious, now, about the future and that’s why we back Scotland’s decision to introduce an AI strategy. All countries should do so.”

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Both the UK and Scotland have outlined AI Strategies, looking to leverage the benefits of AI to transform their societies and economies.

The moves come with funding programmes to boost the development and adoption of the technology. In addition, they call for the creation of standards and regulations for AI to meet the societal challenges it presents.

The UK’s strategy has called for research to help build public confidence in AI.

CEO of The Data Lab and Chair of Scotland’s AI Alliance Gillian Docherty noted: “During the development of Scotland’s AI Strategy we also found that the public recognise the risks as well as the potential benefits of AI. Our strategy puts people at the core and that is why we are committed to ensuring AI is trustworthy, ethical, and inclusive in Scotland.

“For example, as part of the Scottish Government CivTech Challenge, the Government is working with Finnish company Saidot to tackle the question of how to give the citizens of Scotland trust and agency over how AI and algorithms are used in the public sector.

“It is not a change that happens overnight but a process that takes time, and an important one. Scotland’s AI Strategy is committed to making Scotland a leader in the development and use of trustworthy, ethical and inclusive AI and to encourage the uptake we must first build that trust.”

Meanwhile, in December last year, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights called for member states to curb the use of AI in medicine, targeted advertising, and predictive polling.

The EU also proposed rules to issue GDPR-style fines for companies that use AI for surveillance or to manipulate human behaviour.

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