A new study conducted by Brunel University of London has revealed that while voters in the UK are open to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to assist Members of Parliament (MPs), they strongly reject the idea of machines making political decisions.
The study, published in Parliamentary Affairs, surveyed 990 people in the UK and 2,117 in Japan and asked them about their views on AI in Parliament. The results showed that the majority of respondents were in favor of AI being used to support parliamentarians in making better decisions, but were not comfortable with AI or robots making decisions instead of MPs.
This research comes as the UK government is expanding its use of AI across departments and has recently published its Blueprint for Modern Digital Government. Speaking at OpenAI’s Frontiers conference in London, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy stated that AI could increase trust in government and reduce bureaucracy. However, Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat cautioned against outsourcing political speeches to AI, after noticing the use of Americanisms.
According to the study, 80% of UK respondents opposed the idea of AI or robots making political decisions instead of MPs. Japanese respondents were slightly more open to the idea, but still had reservations about handing over political authority to machines.
Honorary Professor at Brunel Business School, Steve Pickering, stated that while politicians may be tempted to rely on AI, the research shows that voters have drawn a clear line and want transparency, accountability, and ultimately, humans to make the final decisions.
The study also found that while voters were generally open to the use of AI in politics, there was a clear red line when it came to political judgment. People want human representatives to remain responsible, even if machines are used in the background.
Support for AI in politics varied based on age, gender, trust, and political beliefs. Younger men were more open to its use, while older people and women were more skeptical. Trust in government and confidence in using technology were strong indicators of support, while fear was the strongest predictor of opposition. Those who expressed fear towards AI were less likely to support its use in politics.
In the UK, political ideology played a role in attitudes towards AI, with those on the political right being more supportive of its use by MPs. However, in Japan, support was consistent across the political spectrum, suggesting that ideology had little influence.
The researchers concluded that maintaining legitimacy is crucial when it comes to the use of AI in politics. While AI may help speed up decision-making processes, public consent is essential for maintaining trust in government. “AI may be fast, but democracy depends on consent,” said Prof Pickering.
The full paper, titled “Democracy by algorithm? Public attitudes towards AI in parliamentary decision-making in the UK and Japan,” is available online and is open access.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.