Europeans and Artificial intelligence : report.
Date: 2020-09-09
Institutions: Directorate-General for Communication
Subjects: EU Member State, Internet site, artificial intelligence, climate change, crime, economic discrimination, energy consumption, ethics, financial risk, fraud, health care, information security, report, risk management, services contract, transport safety

Standard Eurobarometer 92 
Autumn 2019 

Report 

Europeans and Artificial Intelligence 

Fieldwork 
November 2019 

Survey requested and co-ordinated by the European Commission, 
Directorate-General for Communication 

This document does not represent the point of view of the European Commission. 
The interpretations and opinions contained in it are solely those of the authors. 

Standard Eurobarometer 92 – Wave EB92.3 – Kantar 

 
Standard Eurobarometer 92 

Report 

Europeans and Artificial Intelligence  

Fieldwork: November 2019 

Survey conducted by Kantar Public Brussels for Kantar Belgium 
on request of the European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication 

Survey coordinated by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Project title 

Language version 
Catalogue number 
ISBN 
ISSN 

© European Union, 2020 

Standard Eurobarometer 92 
"Europeans and Artificial Intelligence" 

EN 
NA-AO-20-007-EN-N 
978-92-76-19098-1 
1997-3927 
doi:10.2775/130032 

http://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans and Artificial Intelligence 

Standard Eurobarometer 92 

Autumn 2019 

CONTENTS 

INTRODUCTION 

Report 

2 

I. THE DESIRE FOR INFORMATION WHEN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS USED IN DIGITAL  
AND MOBILE SERVICES 

4 

II. THE BEST USES FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 

III. CONCERNS ABOUT THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 

IV. HOW TO ENSURE ETHICAL AI APPLICATIONS 

10 

16 

23 

APPENDICES 

Tables 

Technical specifications 

1 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans and Artificial Intelligence 

Autumn 2019 

INTRODUCTION 

Standard Eurobarometer 92 

Report 

The Standard Eurobarometer 92 (EB92) survey was conducted from 14 to 29 November 20191 in 34 
countries  or  territories:  the  28  Member  States  of  the  European  Union  (EU) 2,  the  five  candidate 
countries  (Albania,  Montenegro,  North  Macedonia 3 ,  Serbia  and  Turkey),  and  the  Turkish  Cypriot 
Community in the part of the country not controlled by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus. 

The full report of the Standard Eurobarometer 92 survey consists of several volumes. The first volume 
presents the results of general questions about the state of public opinion in the European Union. 

priorities; European citizenship; media habits in the European Union; the European Union budget; and 
artificial intelligence. 

artificial  intelligence 4 .  Artificial 
The  present  volume  analyses  Europ
intelligence  (AI)  can  prove  beneficial  in  a  broad  range  of  sectors,  such  as  healthcare,  energy 
consumption, vehicle safety, agriculture, climate change and financial risk management. It can also 
help  to  detect  fraud  and  threats  to  cybersecurity  and  allows  authorities  to  fight  crime  more 
effectively. Nevertheless, it brings new challenges for the future of work and raises legal and ethical 
questions.  In  order  to  respond  to  these  challenges, the  European  Commission has  launched  an  AI 
strategy5, in order to build trust in AI and make it human-centric6. 

This volume approaches the topic of AI through the following issues: 

▪  The desire for information when artificial intelligence is used in digital and mobile 
services:  under  what  circumstances  do  Europeans  want  to  know  when  a  digital  service  or 
mobile application uses AI? 

▪  The best uses for AI: in what fields do Europeans think that the use of AI seems particularly 

appropriate? 

▪  Concerns about the use of AI: do Europeans have fears about the use of AI? Do they think 

it could lead to discrimination, lack of accountability, or even to dehumanisation? 

▪  How to ensure ethical AI applications: do Europeans believe that public policy intervention 

is needed to ensure the ethical development of AI applications? 

1 Please consult the technical specifications for the exact dates of the interviews in each country. 
2 The survey was conducted in Member States of the European Union at the time of the survey, including the United Kingdom. 
3 Since the Prespa agreement came into force on 12 February 2019, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is now called 'Republic of 
North Macedonia' or 'North Macedonia'. 
4 These questions were asked only in European Union Member States. 
5 
6 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/news/artificial-intelligence-2019-apr-08_en 

Building Trust in Human-Centric Artificial Intelligence

 COM (2019) 168 

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Europeans and Artificial Intelligence 

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The methodology employed is that of the Standard Eurobarometer surveys of the Directorate-General 
7. The same methodology has been 
applied in all countries and territories covered by the survey. A technical note relating to the interviews 
carried  out  by  institutes  of  the  Kantar  Public  Brussels  network  is  included  as  an  appendix  to  this 
report. It also specifies the confidence intervals8. 

Following the introduction of the new General Data Protection Regulation9 (GDPR) in the European 
Union,  respondents  were  asked  whether  they  agreed  to  be  asked  questions  about  subjects  which 

This report refers to countries by their official abbreviations, as indicated in the table below: 

BE 
BG 
CZ 
DK 
DE 
EE 
IE 
EL 
ES 
EN 
HR 
IT 
CY* 
LV 

Lithuania  
Luxembourg  
Hungary 
Malta 
Netherlands 
Austria 
Poland 
Portugal  
Romania 
Slovenia 
Slovakia 
Finland 
Sweden 
United Kingdom 

Belgium 
Bulgaria 
Czechia 
Denmark  
Germany 
Estonia 
Ireland 
Greece  
Spain 
France 
Croatia 
Italy 
Republic of Cyprus 
Latvia 
Turkish Cypriot Community 
Albania 
Montenegro 
North Macedonia 
European Union - weighted average for the 28 Member States of the European Union 
European Union - weighted average for the 27 Member States of the European Union 
without the data from the United Kingdom 
BE, FR, IT, LU, DE, AT, ES, PT, IE, NL, FI, EL, EE, SI, CY, MT, SK, LV, LT 

Turkey 
Serbia 

AL 
ME 
MK 

BG, CZ, DK, HR, HU, PL, RO, SE, UK  

LT 
LU 
HU 
MT 
NL 
AT 
PL 
PT 
RO 
SI 
SK 
FI 
SE 
UK  
CY (tcc) 
TR 
RS 

EU28 

EU27 

Euro area 
Outside euro 
area 

rt of the 
country not controlled by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus. For practical reasons, only interviews carried out in the part of the 
28 (and 
EU27). Interviews carried out in the part of the country not controlled by the Government of the Republic  of Cyprus are included in the 

Turkish Cypriot Community] 

We would like to thank all respondents  

across the European Union who took the time to take part in this survey.  

Without their active participation, this survey would not have been possible. 

7 http://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/index.cfm 
8 Tables of results can be found as an appendix. Please note that the total of percentages shown in the tables of this report may exceed 
100% when the respondent was able to give multiple answers to a single question. 
9 2016/679 

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I.  THE DESIRE FOR INFORMATION WHEN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS USED IN 

DIGITAL AND MOBILE SERVICES 

Eight in ten Europeans think they should be informed when a digital service or mobile 
application is using artificial intelligence 

When a digital service or mobile application is using artificial intelligence, 80% of respondents think 
they should be informed (tota
know'. More specifically: 

10

▪ 

▪ 

▪ 

obvious

in cases where artificial intelligence may pose a risk

trust that the  rules  in  place already  protect  [them] in  any  event

it is not important

(5%). 

in every case  

in cases where it isn't 

10 QF1. Do you think that you should be informed when a digital service or mobile application is using Artificial Intelligence? 

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A national analysis shows that at least seven in ten respondents across the 28 EU Member States 
(80% in EU27) would like to be informed when a digital service or mobile application is using artificial 
intelligence. This proportion is highest 
(87%), and lowest in Latvia, Lithuania and Romania (all 70%). 

by more than six  in ten respondents in France (62%)  and  in  Spain and the United Kingdom (both 
61%). It is far less frequent in Romania (22%), the only country where this is not the most common 
answer, and in Hungary (30%) and Bulgaria (37%). 

The  share  of  respondents  who  would  like  to  be  informed  in  cases  where  the  use  of  artificial 
intelligence is not obvious to them ranges from 23% in Hungary, Finland and Ireland to 8% in 
Spain, 11% in France and 12% in Lithuania, Malta and Luxembourg. 

yes, in every case

in  cases  where  artificial 

intelligence may pose a risk
Poland (20%), but by fewer than one in ten in Malta (4%) and Spain (9%). 

The proportion of respondents who say it is  not important to know  whether a digital service or 
mobile  application  is  using  artificial  intelligence  is  highest  in  Lithuania  (18%),  Latvia  (16%),  and 
Hungary and Romania (both 14%), and lowest in Germany, Greece and the Netherlands (all 4%). 

In all 28 EU Member States, fewer than one in ten respondents think that the rules in place already 
protect them in any event, with proportions ranging from 8% in Slovakia, Poland and Romania to 
1% in Malta. 

Finally, 20% of respondents say they 

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QF1Yes, in every caseYes, in cases where it isn't obvious to youYes, in cases where artificial intelligence may pose a riskNo, it is not important for you to knowNo, you trust that the rules in place already protect you in any eventDon't knowTotal 'Yes'Total 'No'EU285115148578013EU275015158578013BE48161711628117BG371817102167212CZ43151912747719DK4919138748115DE581512456859EE422111124107416IE4623126498110EL521917435887ES618984107812FR6211117458411HR39201910667816IT40171612787319CY5613138378211LV41151416597021LT40121818397021LU591214528857HU30231914777221MT581245120746NL542018431927AT39221711657817PL39142088117316PT501310113137314RO22192914887022SI53131084127612SK3920178887616FI4423169358312SE5419146438710UK611410627858Doyouthinkthatyoushouldbeinformedwhenadigitalserviceormobileapplicationisusing artificial intelligence?(%)Highest percentage per countryHighest percentage per itemLowest percentage per countryLowest percentage per item 
 
  
 
 
 
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Analysis  of  the  socio-demographic  data  shows  that,  across  all  categories,  a  majority  of 
respondents believe that they should be informed in every case when a digital service or mobile 
application is using artificial intelligence. This proportion is highest among Europeans who remained 
in education until the age of 20 or beyond (57%), managers (58%), the self-employed (55%), the 
unemployed (55%) and people who use the internet every day (55%). In contrast, it is lowest, although 
still representing the majority, among Europeans who finished education aged 15 or earlier (42%), 
people who have difficulty paying their bills from time to time (45%) and those who do not use the 
internet every day (34% among those who never use the internet and 42% among those who do so 
often or sometimes). 

8 

QF1Yes, in every caseYes, in cases where it isn't obvious to youYes, in cases where artificial intelligence may pose a riskNo, it is not important for you to knowNo, you trust that the rules in place already protect you in any eventDon't knowEU28511514857Man521515855Woman51141385915-2453181664325-3952181674340-5453171475455 +4811121061315-428101481816-1951151585620+571714633Still studying521716753Self-employed551614843Managers581814532Other white collars482018644Manual workers521514856House persons5013129610Unemployed551512765Retired46101211615Students521716753Most of the time501413959From time to time4517161066Almost never/ Never541413757The working class5111119612The lower middle class501614956The middle class521616745The upper middle class531916732The upper class4912151473Everyday551615743Often/ Sometimes4214181169Never3471016924Consider belonging toUse of the InternetDoyouthinkthatyoushouldbeinformedwhenadigitalserviceormobileapplicationisusing artificial intelligence? GenderAgeEducation (End of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying bills 
 
  
 
 
 
 
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QF1Yes, in every caseYes, in cases where it isn't obvious to youYes, in cases where artificial intelligence may pose a riskNo, it is not important for you to knowNo, you trust that the rules in place already protect you in any eventDon't knowEU27501515857Man501516856Woman49141486915-2453171674325-3951181774340-5452171575455 +4711121161315-418111481816-1949151596620+561615643Still studying511816753Self-employed531716743Managers561815632Other white collars472019653Manual workers501515965House persons49121310610Unemployed551312866Retired45101211715Students511816753Most of the time491413969From time to time4317181066Almost never/ Never521414857The working class47111210713The lower middle class4915141066The middle class511616755The upper middle class541916731The upper class5013151174Everyday541715743Often/ Sometimes4015191169Never3471016924Consider belonging toUse of the InternetDoyouthinkthatyoushouldbeinformedwhenadigitalserviceormobileapplicationisusing artificial intelligence? (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (End of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying bills 
 
  
 
 
 
 
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II.  THE BEST USES FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 

The healthcare sector is by far the area where the use of artificial intelligence is seen as 
most appropriate  

Choosing up to two items from a list of five, respondents could name the sectors where they see the 
use of Artificial Intelligence as most appropriate11: 

▪ 

In first position, half of Europeans (50%) think that artificial i
improve medical diagnostics, develop personalised medicine, improve surgery  

to 

▪  More  than  a  quarter  believe  that  artificial  i

management,  reduce  congestion,  improve  air  quality
monitoring of pollution, energy consumption levels

to  improve  traffic 
to  improve  the 

▪  Fewer than one in five respondents say that the use of artificial i

improve  the  safety  and  security  of  society
productivity and job safety

to 
to  power  robots,  improve 

Furthermore,  7%  of  respondents  believe  that  none  of  the  examples  require  the  use  of  artificial 
intelligence,  while  3%  spontaneously  answered  that  all  five  of  these  examples  justify  the  use  of 
artificial intelligence. 

Finally, nearly one in ten Europeans (8%) express no opinion. 

11 

. 2 ANSWERS) 

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A  national  analysis  shows  that  improvement  of  medical  diagnostics,  development  of 
personalised medicine, improvement in surgery is the most widespread answer in all EU Member 
States except Malta. This item is mentioned most in the Netherlands (74%), Cyprus (72%) and Sweden 
(60%), and least in Romania (31%), Malta (33%) and Hungary (35%). 

In Malta, respondents are most likely to believe that the use of artificial intelligence is particularly 

to improve traffic management, reduce congestion, improve air quality

Although not in first position, this item receives high scores in Belgium (39%), Germany (36%) and 
Luxembourg (35%). It is mentioned least in Spain (20%), Czechia (23%) and Lithuania (25%). 

At  least  three  in  ten  respondents  mention  improving  the  monitoring  of  pollution,  energy 
consumption levels in Italy (34%), Hungary (31%) and Romania (30%). Fewer than one in five do 
so in Bulgaria (15%), Latvia (16%), Slovenia (18%) and Lithuania (19%). 

The  share  of  respondents  who  say  that  artificial  i
safety  and  security  of  society
Portugal (31%). It is lowest in Hungary (10%) and Malta, Austria and Romania (all 11%). 

to  improve  the 

The proportion of respondents who think artificial intelligence i
productivity and job safety
is below 10% in Malta (7%), Portugal (8%) and the Netherlands (9%). 

to power robots, improve 
but 

At  least  one  in  ten  respondents  say  that  none  of  the  examples  justifies  the  use  of  artificial 
intelligence in Austria (11%) and Czechia (10%), while only 3% of respondents share this opinion in 
Portugal, the Netherlands and Sweden. 

Finally, respondents in Malta stand out once again on this issue: they are proportionally most likely 
to  say  spontaneously  that  the  use  of  artificial  intelligence  is  particularly  appropriate  in  all  the 
examples (10%), but also the most likely to give no opinion (20%). 

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QF2… to improve medical diagnostics, developpersonalised medicine, improve surgery… to improve traffic management, reduce congestion, improve air quality… to improve the monitoring of pollution, energy consumption levels… to improve the safety and security of society… to power robots, improve productivity and job safetyNone of the aboveAll of the above (SPONTANEOUS)Don't knowEU285029261916738EU275030261817738BE4839263212702BG45281517185517CZ50232024191015DK4132281933435DE5136221222836EE4127202217879IE43332619145210EL5632282014575ES57202117176213FR5927272512808HR4929201314826IT4329341715837CY7227222015436LV52341623186111LT5525191819739LU5235242010629HU3528311027828MT33372211781020NL743027359311AT41342511231157PL37322314155511PT5327253183611RO3130301114648SI53321815138411SK4034241317858FI4233251438605SE6032272626312UK5426262512637Whichstatementsbelow,ifany,wouldyouselecttofinishthestatement:Artificialintelligence can be best used …(%)Highest percentage per countryLowest percentage per countryHighest percentage per itemLowest percentage per item 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
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Analysis  of  the  socio-demographic  data  shows  that  a  majority  of  respondents  across  all 
categories  think  that  the  use  of  artificial  intelligence  is  particularly  appropriate  for  improving 
medical  diagnostics,  developing  personalised  medicine,  improving  surgery.  This  belief  is 
particularly widespread among Europeans who continued education until the age of 20 or beyond 
(56%), managers (56%) and people who consider themselves upper middle (58%) and upper class 
(56%).  It  is  also  the  majority  view,  although  to  a  lesser  extent,  among  Europeans  who  finished 
education aged 15 or earlier (43%), people who have difficulty paying their bills most of the time 
(44%) and those who never use the internet (37%, with 23% saying they  don t know ). 

14 

QF2… to improve medical diagnostics, develop personalised medicine, improve surgery… to improve traffic management, reduce congestion, improve air quality… to improve the monitoring of pollution, energy consumption levels… to improve the safety and security of society… to power robots, improve productivity and job safetyNone of the aboveAll of the above (SPONTANEOUS)Don't knowEU285029261916738Man5132251819636Woman4927262014731015-24492932192044525-39493328181963440-54533226191872555 +5026221913921315-43212018121121916-19503023201583720+5633291919524Still studying4931341722443Self-employed5233261919633Managers5637281721432Other white collars4934311818434Manual workers4930242016835House persons46262320148211Unemployed5127252016838Retired50242020129215Students4931341722443Most of the time4428251915929From time to time4630281915836Almost never/ Never5330251917638The working class48252119138313The lower middle class4929252117836The middle class5232281817625The upper middle class5838311821312The upper class5635272034410Rural village49282219177210Small/ mid size town5128262016737Large town4933291816627Everyday5332282018534Often/ Sometimes4730221914929Never371717151013323Consider belonging toSubjective urbanisationUse of the InternetWhich statements below, if any, would you select to finish the statement: Artificial intelligence can be best used … (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (End of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying bills 
 
  
 
 
 
 
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QF2… to improve medical diagnostics, develop personalised medicine, improve surgery… to improve traffic management, reduce congestion, improve air quality… to improve the monitoring of pollution, energy consumption levels… to improve the safety and security of society… to power robots, improve productivity and job safetyNone of the aboveAll of the above (SPONTANEOUS)Don't knowEU275030261817738Man5133251820635Woman4927261915721015-24492932182144525-39483428172063440-54523325191872555 +4926221814821315-43212018121121816-19493024191683720+5534291819524Still studying4930341722444Self-employed5134261820633Managers5739291522422Other white collars4834321719534Manual workers4830242017835House persons46262319158212Unemployed5127251917838Retired49242019129216Students4930341722444Most of the time442723201510210From time to time4531291815836Almost never/ Never5230251818638The working class46242017149315The lower middle class5028252117826The middle class5132281818625The upper middle class5839311720312The upper class5836252032410Rural village49282219178210Small/ mid size town5029261917737Large town4933301618627Everyday5333281919534Often/ Sometimes47302218141029Never371717151013323Consider belonging toSubjective urbanisationUse of the InternetWhich statements below, if any, would you select to finish the statement: Artificial intelligence can be best used … (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (End of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying bills 
 
  
 
 
 
 
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III.  CONCERNS ABOUT THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 

The main concern of Europeans is a lack of clarity as to who is responsible for the 

use of artificial intelligence 

Respondents had to say whether they felt concerned about three situations which could result from 
the use of artificial intelligence. They could choose up to two of the three statements12: 

▪  More  than  four  in  ten  respondents  (43%)  say  they  are  concerned  that  the  use  of  artificial 
situations where it is unclear who is responsible, for example 

i
in case of accidents caused by self-driving cars  

▪  The other two statements are mentioned by around one in three respondents: 36% fear that 
artificial  i
discrimination  in  terms  of  age,  gender,  race  or 
nationality,  for  example  in  taking  decisions  on  recruitment,  creditworthiness,  etc.
situations where there is nobody to complain to in 

case of problems  

However,  more  than  one  in  ten  respondents  (12%)  are  not  concerned  about  any  of  the  three 
situations, while only 3% spontaneously said that the use of artificial intelligence could lead to all 
three of these problems. 

Finally, nearly one in ten Europeans (9%) say they  don t know . 

12 QF3. Which statements below, if any, would you select to finish the statement: You are concerned that the use of Artificial Intelligence 

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A national analysis shows that concern about the emergence of situations where it is unclear 
who is responsible is the most widespread answer in 21 EU Member States. It is mentioned most 
in  Finland  (59%),  Hungary  (55%)  and  Romania  (49%),  and  least  in  Luxembourg  (29%),  Portugal 
(31%), and France and Malta (both 36%). 

In four EU Member States, respondents are most concerned that the use of artificial intelligence could 
lead to discrimination in terms of age, gender, race or nationality: this is the most mentioned 
answer in the Netherlands (57%), Sweden (46%), Luxembourg (42%) and Spain (38%), and it is also 
cited by more than four in ten respondents in France (45%). It is mentioned significantly less in Estonia 
(17%), Lithuania (19%) and Hungary (21%). 

In  Sweden,  concerns  relating  to  a  lack  of  clarity  about  who  is  responsible  and  the  emergence  of 
discrimination due to the use of artificial intelligence share first place (both 46%). 

situations where there is nobody to complain to in 

The fear that artificial i
case of problems
Cyprus (41%) and Lithuania (38%). It is also cited by more than four in ten respondents in Estonia 
(43%) and Latvia and Luxembourg (both 41%). However, the emergence of such situations due to 
the use of artificial intelligence concerns less than a quarter of respondents in Malta (18%), Croatia 
(23%) and Germany (24%). 

The share of respondents who are not concerned by any of the three situations is highest in 
Czechia (18%), Sweden (17%) and Lithuania (16%), and lowest in Bulgaria (6%), Poland (7%),  and 
Ireland and Greece (both 8%). 

More than one in ten respondents in Greece (13%)  spontaneously said they  are concerned  by all 
these situations. 

At least one in five respondents say they 

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QF3… situations where it is unclearwho is responsible, for example in caseof accidents caused by self-driving cars… discrimination in terms of age, gender,race or nationality, for example in takingdecisions on recruitment, creditworthiness, etc.… situations where there is nobodyto complain to in case of problemsNone of the aboveAll of the above(SPONTANEOUS)Don't knowEU284336331239EU274336331249BE4639361313BG4226266820CZ4234311826DK4336391426DE4839241547EE45174313811IE4638278213EL4732388135ES37383310313FR3645501017HR4037231438IT42333313410CY38374110412LV4228419312LT37193816413LU2942419610HU55212611310MT36231814928NL4857271110AT4332301577PL4522297615PT3129479513RO49262510310SI40392613512SK4528301269FI5934321116SE4646331713UK45393012210Whichstatementsbelow,ifany,wouldyouselecttofinishthestatement:Youareconcerned that the use of artificial intelligence could lead to …(%)Highest percentage per countryLowest percentage per countryHighest percentage per itemLowest percentage per item 
 
  
 
 
 
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Analysis of the socio-demographic data shows that in almost all socio-demographic categories, 
respondents are most concerned that the use of artificial intelligence could lead to situations where 
it is unclear who is responsible, for example in the case of accidents caused by self-driving cars: 

▪  This fear is most frequent among Europeans aged 15 to 24 (51%), students (52%), managers 
(49%) and other white collars (48%). Although still the majority view, it is far less widespread 
among Europeans aged 55 and over (37%), those who finished education at age 15 or earlier 
(35%), retired people (36%) and people who never use the internet (29%); 

▪  Meanwhile, the fear that artificial intelligence could cause discrimination in terms of age, 
gender, race or nationality, for example in taking decisions on recruitment, creditworthiness, 
etc., is the main concern among people  who consider themselves upper class (50% against 
42% for lack of clarity about who is responsible) and upper middle class (47% against 44%). 

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QF3… situations where it is unclear who is responsible, for example in case of accidents caused by self-driving cars… discrimination in terms of age, gender, race or nationality, for example in taking decisions on recruitment, creditworthiness, etc.… situations where there is nobody to complain to in case of problemsNone of the aboveAll of the above (SPONTANEOUS)Don't knowEU284336331239Man4437341237Woman4335321131115-24513330124725-39463735114440-54474134103555 +3734311331515-3528281532116-19443633124820+4543351025Still studying5235311135Self-employed4436321345Managers4944341133Other white collars4838351045Manual workers4536341247House persons41323210413Unemployed40393311410Retired36333013317Students5235311135Most of the time42323711310From time to time4535351147Almost never/ Never4338311239The working class41333111315The lower middle class4436351237The middle class4537331236The upper middle class4447361123The upper class4250351700Everyday4640341135Often/ Sometimes43323412311Never29222416525Consider belonging toUse of the InternetWhichstatementsbelow,ifany,wouldyouselecttofinishthestatement:Youareconcernedthattheuseofartificial intelligence could lead to … (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (End of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying bills 
 
  
 
 
 
Europeans and Artificial Intelligence 

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Report 

22 

QF3… situations where it is unclear who is responsible, for example in case of accidents caused by self-driving cars… discrimination in terms of age, gender, race or nationality, for example in taking decisions on recruitment, creditworthiness, etc.… situations where there is nobody to complain to in case of problemsNone of the aboveAll of the above (SPONTANEOUS)Don't knowEU274336331249Man4437351247Woman4335321241115-24513430114625-39463636114540-54464135103555 +3733311331515-3527281532016-19443534114820+4542361036Still studying5136301146Self-employed4535331254Managers4745361033Other white collars483835945Manual workers4535351247House persons41323311512Unemployed41393610410Retired35323014317Students5136301146Most of the time41313712410From time to time4535351147Almost never/ Never4337321239The working class39313111416The lower middle class4436361237The middle class4537331236The upper middle class4446371123The upper class4349331800Everyday4639351135Often/ Sometimes43333312310Never30212416524Consider belonging toUse of the InternetWhichstatementsbelow,ifany,wouldyouselecttofinishthestatement:Youareconcernedthattheuseofartificial intelligence could lead to … (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (End of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying bills 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans and Artificial Intelligence 

Autumn 2019 

Standard Eurobarometer 92 

Report 

IV.  HOW TO ENSURE ETHICAL AI APPLICATIONS 

More than half of Europeans believe that public policy intervention is needed to ensure 
the ethical development of artificial intelligence 

Respondents were asked what they believe to be the best way to ensure the ethical development of 
artificial intelligence applications13: 

▪ 

▪ 

▪ 

ensure the ethical development of artificial intelligence applications, a long way ahead of the 
other items; 

public  policy  intervention  is  needed

industry  providers  of  artificial 

intelligence can deal with these issues themselves  

ethical development of artificial intelligence applications. 

no specific action is needed

Furthermore, one in ten respondents (10%) think that  none of the three proposals can ensure the 
ethical  development  of  artificial  intelligence  applications,  while  4%  spontaneously  put  forward  a 
different proposal. 

Finally, more than one in ten Europeans (12%) say they  don t know . 

13 QF4. Which statement below do you agree most to finish the statement: To ensure that Artificial Intelligence applications are developed 
in an ethica

23 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
                                                      
 
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Autumn 2019 

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24 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
Europeans and Artificial Intelligence 

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Report 

A national analysis shows that a majority of respondents in 26 EU Member States believe that 
public policy intervention is needed to ensure the ethical development of artificial intelligence 
applications,  with  the  highest  proportions  in  the  Netherlands  (77%),  Sweden  (72%)  and  Denmark 
(63%). This item is mentioned far less frequently in Romania (19%), Hungary (30%), and Poland and 
Slovakia (both 31%). 

Romania  (39%)  and  Hungary  (33%)  are  the  only  two  EU  Member  States  where  a  majority  of 
respondents think that industry providers of artificial intelligence can deal with these issues 
themselves. At least a quarter of respondents also give this answer in Slovakia and Croatia (both 
27%) and in Poland (25%). Fewer than one in ten hold this opinion in the Netherlands (7%), Denmark 
(8%), and Luxembourg and Sweden (both 9%). 

no  specific  action  is  needed

development of artificial intelligence is highest in Latvia (17%), Poland and Romania (both 16%), and 
lowest in Sweden (3%), the Netherlands and Spain (both 4%). 

Respondents are most  likely to say that  none  of  these  three proposals can ensure the ethical 
development  of  artificial  intelligence  applications  in  Czechia  (18%)  and  France  and  Croatia  (both 
14%). They are least likely to do so in Portugal (4%) and Greece and Ireland (both 6%). 

rate is particularly high in three countries: Bulgaria (31%), Malta (30%) and 

Portugal (22%). 

25 

 
 
  
 
 
 
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Autumn 2019 

Standard Eurobarometer 92 

Report 

26 

QF4… public policy intervention is needed… industry providers of Artificial Intelligence can deal with these issues themselves… no specific action is neededOther (SPONTANEOUS)None of the aboveDon't knowEU285116741012EU275017841011BE4922103124BG341953831CZ3321137188DK6386887DE621253126EE4015771318IE502452613EL51245668ES5013431218FR5610531412HR33271131412IT511893910CY5611731013LV33171741217LT4018761118LU589541212HU3033123814MT3413921230NL7774372AT4022136118PL3125163718PT461972422RO1939164814SI4813941214SK31271151214FI60145498SE7293484UK571253815Whichstatementbelowdoyouagreemosttofinishthestatement:Toensurethat Artificial Intelligence applications are developed in an ethical manner …(%)Highest percentage per countryLowest percentage per countryHighest percentage per itemLowest percentage per item 
 
  
 
 
 
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Report 

Analysis  of  the  socio-demographic  data  shows  that  a  majority  across  all  socio-demographic 
categories believe that public policy intervention is needed to ensure that artificial intelligence 
applications are developed in an ethical manner. However, this opinion is most widespread among 
Europeans aged 40 to 54 years (55%), people who continued education up to the age of 20 or beyond 
(60%), managers (66%), the self-employed (56%), people who never or almost never have difficulty 
paying their bills (55%), those who consider themselves to be middle class (69%) and those who use 
the internet every day (55%). It is far less common among Europeans who never use the internet 

27 

QF4… public policy intervention is needed… industry providers of Artificial Intelligence can deal with these issues themselves… no specific action is neededOther (SPONTANEOUS)None of the aboveDon't knowEU285116741012Man54178399Woman491574111415-2447208591125-3949209410840-545517839855 +511263111715-431163122516-19491883101220+601563106Still studying51208588Self-employed56198395Managers66156274Other white collars48229489Manual workers4818841111House persons5014641115Unemployed4615841215Retired4911631219Students51208588Most of the time4418841115From time to time43211041111Almost never/ Never5514631012The working class4614731119The lower middle class4918741111The middle class531784108The upper middle class69126274The upper class541717282Everyday55177498Often/ Sometimes4418941213Never3711741328Consider belonging toUse of the InternetWhichstatementbelowdoyouagreemosttofinishthestatement:ToensurethatArtificialIntelligenceapplications are developed in an ethical manner … (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (End of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying bills 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
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Report 

28 

QF4… public policy intervention is needed… industry providers of Artificial Intelligence can deal with these issues themselves… no specific action is neededOther (SPONTANEOUS)None of the aboveDon't knowEU275017841011Man53188399Woman481674111415-2446219591025-3949219311740-545418839855 +501264111715-421263122516-19481993101120+591573106Still studying50218588Self-employed55208395Managers66156283Other white collars49229488Manual workers4719931210House persons4915741114Unemployed4814841214Retired4811631220Students50218588Most of the time4318941115From time to time43211131111Almost never/ Never5415641011The working class4315731220The lower middle class4819841110The middle class531883108The upper middle class69136273The upper class561715282Everyday541883107Often/ Sometimes4419941113Never3612841327Consider belonging toUse of the InternetWhichstatementbelowdoyouagreemosttofinishthestatement:ToensurethatArtificialIntelligenceapplications are developed in an ethical manner … (% - EU)GenderAgeEducation (End of)Socio-professional categoryDifficulties paying bills 
 
  
 
 
Europeans and Artificial Intelligence 

Autumn 2019 

TABLES 

Standard Eurobarometer 92 

Tables 

T1 

QF1Yes, in every caseYes, in cases where it isn't obvious to youYes, in cases where artificialintelligence may pose a riskNo, it is not important for you to knowNo, you trust that the rules in placealready protect you in any eventDon't knowTotal 'Yes'Total 'No'EU285115148578013EU275015158578013BE48161711628117BG371817102167212CZ43151912747719DK4919138748115DE581512456859EE422111124107416IE4623126498110EL521917435887ES618984107812FR6211117458411HR39201910667816IT40171612787319CY5613138378211LV41151416597021LT40121818397021LU591214528857HU30231914777221MT581245120746NL542018431927AT39221711657817PL39142088117316PT501310113137314RO22192914887022SI53131084127612SK3920178887616FI4423169358312SE5419146438710UK611410627858Do you think that you should be informed when a digital service or mobile application is using artificial intelligence?(%) 
 
  
 
 
 
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Tables 

T2 

QF2… to improve medical diagnostics, developpersonalised medicine, improve surgery… to improve traffic management, reduce congestion, improve air quality… to improve the monitoring of pollution,energy consumption levels… to power robots, improve productivity and job safety… to improve the safety and security of societyNone of the aboveAll of the above (SPONTANEOUS)Don't knowEU285029261619738EU275030261718738BE4839261232702BG45281518175517CZ50232019241015DK4132283319435DE5136222212836EE4127201722879IE43332614195210EL5632281420575ES57202117176213FR5927271225808HR4929201413826IT4329341517837CY7227221520436LV52341618236111LT5525191918739LU5235241020629HU3528312710828MT33372271181020NL743027935311AT41342523111157PL37322315145511PT5327258313611RO3130301411648SI53321813158411SK4034241713858FI4233253814605SE6032272626312UK5426261225637Which statements below, if any, would you select to finish the statement: Artificial intelligence can be best used …(%)(MAX. 2 ANSWERS) 
 
  
 
 
 
Europeans and Artificial Intelligence 

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Tables 

T3 

QF3… discrimination in terms of age,gender, race or nationality, for examplein taking decisions on recruitment,creditworthiness, etc.… situations where it is unclearwho is responsible, for example in caseof accidents caused by self-driving cars… situations where there is nobody to complain to in case of problemsNone of the aboveAll of the above (SPONTANEOUS)Don't knowEU283643331239EU273643331249BE3946361313BG2642266820CZ3442311826DK3643391426DE3948241547EE17454313811IE3846278213EL3247388135ES38373310313FR4536501017HR3740231438IT33423313410CY37384110412LV2842419312LT19373816413LU4229419610HU21552611310MT23361814928NL5748271110AT3243301577PL2245297615PT2931479513RO26492510310SI39402613512SK2845301269FI3459321116SE4646331713UK39453012210Whichstatementsbelow,ifany,wouldyouselecttofinishthestatement:Youareconcernedthattheuseofartificialintelligence could lead to …(%)(MAX. 2 ANSWERS) 
 
  
 
 
 
Europeans and Artificial Intelligence 

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Tables 

T4 

QF4… public policy intervention is needed… industry providers ofArtificial Intelligence can dealwith these issues themselves… no specific action is neededOther (SPONTANEOUS)None of the aboveDon't knowEU285116741012EU275017841011BE4922103124BG341953831CZ3321137188DK6386887DE621253126EE4015771318IE502452613EL51245668ES5013431218FR5610531412HR33271131412IT511893910CY5611731013LV33171741217LT4018761118LU589541212HU3033123814MT3413921230NL7774372AT4022136118PL3125163718PT461972422RO1939164814SI4813941214SK31271151214FI60145498SE7293484UK571253815Whichstatementbelowdoyouagreemosttofinishthestatement:ToensurethatArtificialIntelligenceapplicationsare developed in an ethical manner …(%)Europeans and Artificial Intelligence 

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Standard Eurobarometer 92 

Technical 
specifications 

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 

Between the 14th November and the 29th November 2019, Kantar on behalf of Kantar Belgium carried 
out the wave 92.3 of the Eurobarometer survey, on request of the European Commission, Directorate-

The wave 92.3 includes the Standard Eurobarometer 92 and covers the population of the respective 
nationalities of the European Union Member States, resident in each of the 28 Member States and 
aged 15 years and over.  

The  Standard  Eurobarometer  92  survey  has  also  been  conducted  in  the  five  candidate  countries 
(Turkey, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania) and in the Turkish Cypriot Community. In 
these countries and in the Turkish Cypriot Community, the survey covers the national population of 
citizens and the population of citizens of all the European Union Member States that are residents in 
these countries and territories and have a sufficient command of the national languages to answer 
the questionnaire.  

TS1 

Europeans and Artificial Intelligence 

Autumn 2019 

Standard Eurobarometer 92 

Technical 
specifications 

The  basic  sample  design  applied  in  all  States  is  a  multi-stage,  random  (probability)  one.  In  each 
country, a number of sampling points was drawn with probability proportional to population size (for 
a total coverage of the country) and to population density. 

In order to do so, the sampling points were drawn systematically from each of the "administrative 
regional units", after stratification by individual unit and type of area. They thus represent the whole 
territory of the countries surveyed according to the EUROSTAT NUTS II (or equivalent) and according 
to the distribution of the resident population of the respective nationalities in terms of metropolitan, 
urban and rural areas.  

In each of the selected sampling points, a starting address was drawn, at random. Further addresses 
(every Nth address) were selected by standard "random route" procedures, from the initial address. 
In each household, the respondent was drawn, at random (following the "closest birthday rule"). If no 
one answered the interviewer in a household, or if the respondent selected was not available (not 
present  or  busy),  the  interviewer  revisited  the  same  household  up  to  three  additional  times  (four 
contact attempts in total). Interviewers never indicate that the survey is conducted on behalf of the 
European Commission beforehand; they may give this information once the survey is completed, upon 
request. 

The  recruitment  phase  was  slightly  different  in  the  Netherlands  and  Sweden.  In  these  countries, 
samples of addresses were selected using address or population registers, within each sampling point: 
the  selection  of  households  was  done  in  a  random  manner.  Households  were  then  contacted  by 
telephone (Netherlands and Sweden) and e-mail (Sweden) and an appointment was made.  

All  interviews  were  conducted  face-to-face  in  people's  homes  and  in  the  appropriate  national 
language. As far as the data capture is concerned, CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal Interview) was 
used in those countries where this technique was available. 

For  each  country  a  comparison  between  the  responding  sample  and  the  universe  is  carried  out. 
Weights  are  used  to  match  the  responding  sample  to  the  universe  on  gender  by  age,  region  and 
degree  of  urbanisation.  For  European  estimates  (i.e.  EU  average),  an  adjustment  is  made  to  the 
individual country weights, weighting them up or down to reflect their 15+ population as a proportion 
of the EU 15+ population.  

The  response  rates  are  calculated  by  dividing  the  total  number  of  complete  interviews  with  the 
number of all the addresses visited, apart from ones that are not eligible but including those where 
eligibility is unknown. 

For Standard Eurobarometer 92, the response rates for the EU28 countries, calculated by Kantar, are: 

TS2 

BE46,4%EL28,9%LT46,9%PT40,2%BG44,6%ES35,7%LU20,1%RO63,4%CZ45,2%FR30,2%HU61,3%SI48,3%DK35,5%HR57,1%MT52,6%SK72,5%DE19,0%IT25,8%NL78,0%FI17,6%EE40,9%CY43,4%AT47,6%SE60,8%IE53,5%LV42,1%PL44,4%UK34,7%Europeans and Artificial Intelligence 

Autumn 2019 

Standard Eurobarometer 92 

Technical 
specifications 

Readers are reminded that survey results are estimations, the accuracy of which, everything being 
equal, rests upon the sample size and upon the observed percentage. With samples of about 1,000 
interviews, the real percentages vary within the following confidence limits: 

TS3