Attitudes towards Artificial Intelligence: reading answers and analysis
AI usually predicts better than people, yet we trust human experts more. IBM's Watson for Oncology was ignored when it agreed with doctors and doubted when it didn't. Opaque algorithms, invisible successes and headline failures feed distrust, and sci-fi films push optimists and sceptics further apart. Experience, transparency reports and letting users tweak algorithms all build trust.
Questions 27-40 · 14 marks · 3 question blocks
Where the answers sit
The headings (27-32) take one section each, A to F. The multiple choice (33-35) is in A and C. YES / NO / NOT GIVEN (36-40) covers D to F.
Questions 27-32
A opens with how much better AI is at forecasting. B is doctors' distrust of Watson, and C explains why we trust people more. D shows attitudes splitting further apart. E proposes transparency about algorithms, and F proposes giving users some control. Two headings are left over, including a tempting one about a successful application.
| Question | Answer | Also accepted |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | iii | — |
| 28 | vi | — |
| 29 | ii | — |
| 30 | i | — |
| 31 | vii | — |
| 32 | v | — |
Questions 33-35
Section A establishes a problem (our lack of trust) before any solutions appear. In C, AI's complexity creates anxiety and a sense of losing control. The media's focus on AI failures sends the message that we can't rely on it.
| Question | Answer | Also accepted |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | C | — |
| 34 | B | — |
| 35 | A | — |
Questions 36-40
The films didn't change opinions, they strengthened existing ones (NO), and previous experience improves attitudes significantly (NO). Refusing AI could put many people at a serious disadvantage (YES), and users who could modify an algorithm liked it more (YES). The future tone of media portrayals isn't predicted.
| Question | Answer | Also accepted |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | NO | — |
| 37 | NOT GIVEN | — |
| 38 | YES | — |
| 39 | NO | — |
| 40 | YES | — |
The questions most people get wrong
NO. Watching the films polarised people: optimists became more enthusiastic and sceptics more guarded. Opinions intensified rather than changed.
iii. Section A says AI is 'almost always better at forecasting than we are'. Distrust is mentioned too, but it's developed in B and C.
B. Not understanding AI's decisions makes people anxious and feel they're losing control, which puts them at a disadvantage. D invents 'misunderstandings'.
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