Indians Know AI Best — But Also Fear It Most 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer science fiction. It’s in our phones, in our offices, and even in our schools. According to a recent survey conducted by Forrester and reported by Outlook Business, something is interesting: Indians residing in large cities are more aware of AI than anyone else in the world — but they are also more fearful. 

High Awareness in India 

The survey discovered that nearly 95% of metro Indians have heard about AI, whereas just 65% have in Australia and 81% in Singapore. This is not unexpected. India is a rapidly developing digital hub, where AI is applied to everything from e-commerce applications and banking to translation software and digital classrooms. 

Awareness, however, is not always comfort. The more Indians hear about AI, the more they also see its flaws. 

 Why the Fear? 

 45% of metro Indians believe AI poses a serious danger to society, far more than in other nations. The primary concerns are: 

•  Fake news and deepfakes circulating online 
• Misuse of data and loss of privacy 
• Bias in AI causing biased choices 
• Loss of jobs and diminished human oversight 

Simply put, Indians perceive AI as strong but unsafe if unregulated. 

Trust: A Mixed Picture 

Indians, for all their apprehensions, do have faith in some applications of AI. Language tools used for translation, composition, and productivity are happily accepted. Individuals are at ease with AI-based assistants and apps that simplify daily life. 

However, when the applications are sensitive — such as autonomous vehicles, health advice chatbots, or money-making decisions — there is hesitation. 

Interestingly, Indians are more proficient at detecting when businesses use AI. More than half say they can generally detect whether an app or service is on AI. That’s much higher than in nations such as Australia or Singapore. In addition, 46% of Indians are open to providing personal information to enhance AI tools, versus fewer than 20% in these countries. 

 The Way Forward 

India is already making efforts to balance safety and opportunity. The government’s India AI Mission and the recently passed Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act are efforts to promote innovation while safeguarding citizens. 

But one issue remains: people have “half-knowledge.” They know that AI is real but often don’t realize its limitations. This has the effect of making risks appear larger – or smaller –  than they are. To address this, India requires: 

•  Improved AI training for the masses 
• Transparent regulations on how businesses use AI 
• Transparency so that users have no doubt when AI is at work 

Call to Action

The survey reflects a stark paradox: Indians are most cognizant of AI — but also most fearful of it. The awareness is a plus, but the fear needs to be countered by education, regulation, and the right kind of use. 

Managed properly, this anxiety could be a good thing — propelling India to create AI responsibly, rather than charging headlong into it blind.