New Report Finds Public Attitudes Towards Artificial Intelligence Influenced by Political Values, UK Government Seeks to Accelerate AI Use
London, 8 July 2025 – The latest report from the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) reveals that the public’s views on artificial intelligence (AI) are heavily influenced by their political beliefs. The report, part of the British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey, highlights varying opinions on the risks and benefits of AI, particularly when it comes to government use for surveillance and welfare decision-making.
As the UK Government pushes for increased use of AI in public services and the economy, concerns over the rapid deployment of emerging technologies are on the rise.
Surveillance and Discrimination Top Concerns
According to the report, 63% of people with left-wing views are concerned about the potential for false accusations due to facial recognition technology in policing, compared to 45% of those with right-wing views. Similarly, 57% of people from a Black minority ethnic group are concerned about this technology, compared to 39% of the general public. Concerns about discriminatory outcomes in the use of AI to determine welfare eligibility are also higher among those with left-wing views (23%) than those with right-wing views (8%).
Job Losses a Major Concern
The report also reveals that people with left-wing views are more worried about potential job losses due to AI than those with right-wing views. Specifically, 62% of left-wing respondents are concerned about job losses from robotic care assistants, while only 44% of right-wing respondents share this concern. Similarly, 60% of left-wing respondents are concerned about job losses from driverless cars, compared to 47% of right-wing respondents.
Views Vary by AI Application
The report shows that those with libertarian views tend to see speed and efficiency as the key benefits of most AI applications. For example, 40% of libertarian respondents see driverless cars as offering these benefits, compared to 25% of authoritarian respondents. When it comes to concerns about job losses, the report reveals that for all AI applications, those with left-wing views are more worried than those with right-wing views.
Mixed Opinions on Mental Health Chatbots
The report also highlights mixed opinions on mental health chatbots, with 52% of left-wing and 50% of right-wing respondents seeing faster access to mental health support as a key benefit of this technology. However, both groups are divided on the issue.
Public Calls for Effective Regulation of AI
The report also shows that around 7 in 10 people would feel more comfortable with AI technologies if they were governed by laws and regulations, a sentiment shared widely across political orientations.
Research Director at NatCen, Alex Scholes, said, “As AI becomes more integrated into society, understanding how people respond to its different uses will be crucial for policymakers and developers. This research, conducted in collaboration with the Alan Turing Institute and the Ada Lovelace Institute, shows that public attitudes towards AI are far from uniform. They are shaped not only by demographic factors but also by people’s political values. Importantly, despite diverse opinions on the benefits and risks of AI, there is widespread agreement on the need for effective regulation.”
Associate Director at Ada Lovelace Institute, Octavia Field Reid, added, “It is clear that people’s understanding, trust, and comfort with AI are influenced by their political values and experiences with specific technologies and the institutions using them. Policymakers must ensure that the current adoption agenda of AI aligns with public attitudes and expectations, especially within the public sector. This vital research can help policymakers better understand the different concerns about AI across society, including those from marginalized groups, and how these intersect with other areas of public policy, such as the job market and policing.”
The report, entitled “British Social Attitudes (BSA): the 42nd Report,” is available on the NatCen website. The report is edited by Curtis Jessop, Elizabeth Clery, and Professor Sir John Curtice.
For more information, please contact:
Evie Coffey, Communications Manager, National Centre for Social Research
evie.coffey@natcen.ac.uk
Direct: +44 20 7549 8512
Katie Crabb, Head of Marketing and Communications, National Centre for Social Research
katie.crabb@natcen.ac.uk
Direct: 0207 549 8504
Notes to editors:
Founded in 1969 by Sir Roger Jowell and Gerald Hoinville, NatCen is the largest independent, not-for-profit social research organization in the UK. The organization’s mission is to conduct rigorous social policy research to improve society (www.natcen.ac.uk).
The British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey has been conducted annually since 1983 and is the longest-running measure of public opinion in Britain. It provides authoritative data on a range of social
