Most UK adults do not trust algorithms | Trends - Research Live

Liam Kay, Research Live emphasizes, The majority of the British public do not trust computer algorithms to make decisions about any aspect of their lives, according to research from BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT.

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The BCS found that 53% of UK adults have not faith in any organisation to use algorithms to make judgements about them.

The survey was carried out by YouGov with a total representative sample size of 2,076 adults. Fieldwork took place online between 28 August and 1 September, and all participants were shown a description of an algorithm beforehand.

It found that trust in the use of algorithms in education was at 7%, although this rose to 16% of 18 to 24-year-olds.

The figures follow the recent use of an algorithm to grade this year’s A-level results, which were published last month. The algorithm was later dropped by the government following complaints about the results it produced, and teacher predictions were used instead...

Dr Bill Mitchell, director of policy at BCS, said: “The problem government and business face are balancing people’s expectations of instant decisions, on something like credit for a sofa, with fairness and accounting for the individual, when it comes to life-changing moments like receiving exam grades.

“That’s why we need a professionalised data science industry, independent impact assessments wherever algorithms are used in making high-stakes judgements about people’s lives, and a better understanding of AI and algorithms by the policymakers who give them sign-off.”
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Source: Research Live