• by Chuck Martin , Staff Writer, April 25, 2017

Consumers are rooting for AI, but many also see some potential pitfalls.

Artificial intelligence is viewed as a way to solve issues ranging from those related to cybersecurity and privacy to global education, based on a study out today.

The study is based on a survey of a nationally representative sample of 2,500 U.S. consumers and business decision makers aimed at exploring attitudes towards artificial intelligence conducted by PwC. Participants were screened for basic familiarity with AI.

PwC notes that artificial intelligence today works in three ways:

• Assisted intelligence -- Widely available now, improves what people and organizations already do. An example is a car GPS navigation program that offers directions and adjusts to road conditions.
• Augmented intelligence – Emerging, enables people and organizations to do things they couldn’t otherwise do. One example would be the combination of programs that organize cars in ride-sharing services.
• Autonomous intelligence, being developed for the future, establishes machines that act on their own. An example would be self-driving vehicles, when they come into widespread use.

The majority (63%) of consumers say AI will help solve complex problems that plague modern societies and 59% say it will help people live more fulfilling lives.

On the other hand, almost half (46%) believe AI will harm people by taking jobs away and 23% say it will have serious negative implications.

However, there’s a slight twist to viewpoints on jobs:

• 80% say it’s more important to have access to more affordable legal advice than to preserve the jobs of lawyers
• 69% would rather have more affordable, convenient and reliable transportation than preserve the jobs of taxi drivers
• 64% would rather have instant access to quality customer service than preserve the jobs of customer service reps

Digital assistants are leading the first wave of artificial intelligence adoption, according to the PwC study.

The majority (72%) of business execs already are using digital assistants, as are 53% of millennials and 42% of consumers. More than a third (34%) of business execs say that the time freed up by using digital assistants allows them to focus on deep thinking and creating.

Consumers seem to have big hopes for AI.

The majority (66%) see it being involved in curing cancer and diseases, 68% for help solving issues relating to cybersecurity and privacy and 58% in helping with global education.

AI has some big hopes and expectations to deal with .

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Artificial intelligence will be discussed at the MediaPost IoT Marketing Forum May 18 in New York. Here’s the agenda.