Chat GTP and a new generation of natural language-based text-generating bots have pretty much silenced all that stuff about, say, Web 3, and NFTs. But, as with anything new, some like it – and some don't.

If you are an employee in the financial industry, you are probably looking very suspiciously at this new generation of artificially intelligent text-based chatbots, particularly if you were a witness to the rapid emptying of operations jobs and COOs at certain large Asian banks a bit more than half a decade back.

Maybe you are like me. You have tried out one or two and not been particularly impressed with the results, thinking –in the heat of the moment –that whatever you do for a living is safe for at least the next six months or a year. But –in truth –you are not completely sure.

All this could be a seminal moment. If you are of a certain age, this might be even bigger than that tentative, first email sent decades ago, or logging into that new Facebook or Instagram account.

Variations by Country

To figure out what people think about artificial intelligence, Visual Digest published an infographic based on an Ipsos survey that visualizes how attitudes towards AI vary by country.

It was based on information collated from 19,504 adults aged between 18 and 74 in 28 countries between November and December 2021 (the results were published in January). That means it took place before the introduction of the current generation of natural language processing bots.

But still, there are some surprising revelations.

Asians More Positive

Positive public sentiment was highest in China, where it neared almost 80 percent. India followed suit in third place with Malaysia in fifth and South Korea in ninth.

Those surveyed in countries considered traditionally developed didn't look at things quite as positively. France came in dead last, with just about 30 percent viewing the development as positive, although they are easily grouped with the likes of the Netherlands, Canada, the US, Germany, Australia, and the UK.

What gives? According to IPSOS, the samples from places like China and India came from more urban and educated portions of the population and more likely reflect «tech-savvy» segments, although such countries do seem to be embracing AI to greater lengths.

No Clear Reason

In hindsight, it would be interesting to see an updated survey, particularly given the limits China has since placed on things such as Chat GTP on the mainland.

Visual Digest had no clear answer as to why countries in what were considered traditionally wealthier were at the lower end of the results, although they believed that numerous societal factors such as differing attitudes towards technology and economic structure, or a combination of both, could be behind that.

They use the structure of the US and China's economy, as examples, saying that the American one was far more heavily tilted towards services and far less reliant on agriculture.

Finance Sector Questions

China had a higher proportion employed in the industrial sector and such structural differences could potentially impact how a country's population sees AI.

What is clearly interesting is in this is taking a deeper look at the gap between national attitudes and their ability to embrace or be skeptical about AI.

Reading it closely also potentially offers interesting answers to questions, or fears, financial sector employees may have about their future, particularly given that the preponderant majority are, in essence, operating in the service sector.