More than 60% of Europeans positively view robots and AI at work and over 70% believe they improve productivity. While a majority supports using robots and AI to make decisions at work, 84% of Europeans think that AI requires careful management to protect privacy and ensure transparency in the workplace.
Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu, said:
“Artificial intelligence is becoming an integral part of modern workplaces. We must use it in a way that both helps workers and protects them. We have a strong basis of rules, with our GDPR, the AI Act, and the Directive on platform work. We will look at how these rules are applied to address the impact of AI throughout the wider labour market.”
The results of the survey align with one of the key objectives of the EU's Competitiveness Compass, to integrate digital technologies and AI into workplaces to boost innovation and productivity. The EU has allocated €2 billion from the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and €23 billion from the Recovery and Resilience Fund (RRF) to Member States to support the development of digital skills. The Digital Europe Programme has also invested €580 million to advance digital skills between 2021-2027.
More information on the Eurobarometer on Artificial Intelligence and the future of work.