The future of artificial intelligence: Fear, hope or indifference?

Abstract

The article explores how youth perceive the risks of artificial intelligence (AI), based on a survey of 410 university students from Poland, Spain, and Ukraine. The study confirms non-random responses with acceptable internal consistency for categorical variables and complex constructs. The authors built three latent profiles of participants with pragmatic, skeptical, and cautious attitudes towards AI. The scenario approach revealed that respondents are cautious about the use of AI but generally support its implementation under conditions of flexible state regulation. Youth do not see AI as a threat to social equality or the labor market but expect state support through retraining and basic income for laid-off workers. At the same time, there are both optimistic and skeptical scenarios about the future of AI, which depend on the level of awareness and cultural characteristics of the respondents.