Innovation in the world of technology has grown rapidly during the last decade, paving the way for the rise of Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) tools. These AI-powered systems and applications make data-based decisions without human involvement or intervention. From understanding customer demand to helping government agencies make policy decisions, A.I. is becoming integral to our lives. But with its increasing power and complexity comes great responsibility – finding ways to ensure that it reflects our collective values and ethical standards in politics.
Recent news concerning Chat GPT and other technologies, such as Google Bard, has been featured in the Canadian and American press.
We investigated the opinions of Canadians and Americans regarding A.I. technologies in more detail. Our most recent North American Tracker studies how they use, understand, and view these tools (including whether they are beneficial or detrimental to society). A survey was conducted to compare the political opinions of Canadians and Americans.
This research was jointly conducted with the Association for Canadian Studies (ACS) and revealed by the Canadian Press. The complete set of surveys can be accessed on Leger’s website.
Many Canadians and Americans are uncertain of A.I. tools’ implications on society. However, 36% of Canadians and 32% of Americans view them as beneficial.
– 25% of people in Canada and 25% in the U.S. indicate that they are not doing well.
– Approximately four out of every ten Canadians and almost half of all Americans either do not know or refuse to answer the question.
– Canadians and Americans tend to have a great deal or some confidence in A.I. tools for tasks done at home or getting product/service info from a website chat. However, they are least likely to rely on A.I. when teaching their kids or seeking an online life partner.
– 75% of Canadians agree that A.I. tools lack the emotional/empathetic capacity to make effective decisions, and 72% believe they are vulnerable to fraud or hacking. Americans have similar worries, with 73% believing A.I. is prone to fraud/hacking and 72% concerned it could threaten their employment opportunities.
Canadian Politics
-At present, it is projected that if there were a federal election, 35% of Canadian voters who have made up their minds would cast their ballot for the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) led by Poilievre and 32% for the Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) headed by Trudeau.
– Canadians view Justin Trudeau as the most suitable choice for prime minister, with 24% believing this to be true. Pierre Poilievre follows closely behind with 21% support.
American Politics
– Trump is the top choice among Republican voters in the U.S. for the 2024 presidential election, while Biden is leading with Democratic voters.*
– Americans are currently most anxious about inflation, at 65%, and the state of the U.S. economy, which ranks second in terms of concerns, at 59%.
The data collection for this question was conducted over three weeks, from January 20 to February 12, 2023. It focused on Republican and Democrat voters who plan to vote in the 2024 Presidential Election, respectively.
Methodology
A web survey was conducted between February 10 and 12, 2023, involving 1,539 Canadians and 1,000 Americans aged 18 or over selected randomly from LEO’s online panel.
Calculating the margin of error for a non-probability panel survey is impossible. By contrast, if we take two probability samples of 1,539 and 1,000 respondents, the respective margins of error would be ±2.50% and ±3.09%, with a confidence level of 19 out of 20 times.
This report includes the findings of the following questions and more!
– Do you have any knowledge of the different kinds of A.I. tools?
– Overall, do you think A.I. tools are…
– What are your thoughts on the following statements regarding A.I. tools? Do you agree or disagree with them to a certain degree?
– Given the current state of affairs, which political party would you most likely vote for in a FEDERAL election if it were held today?
-What are your top three most pressing worries at present?
It is clear from this discussion that Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) tools have the potential to revolutionize politics. By helping to analyze and interpret data, A.I. tools can provide insight into public opinion and voter behavior and generate effective campaign strategies. While some of these applications are already used by policymakers and political groups, there is still much progress in fully realizing A.I.’s potential in politics.
While uses of A.I. can potentially aid politicians and political scientists alike, it also poses questions of risk and accountability when decisions are handed over to a machine-based system rather than a human one.
Source: Leger
