Report Highlights Icelanders’ Concerns Over Artificial Intelligence

2026-03-05 - 11:56

A new survey suggests that artificial intelligence is already widely used in Iceland, while many people also express concerns about its impact on society and democracy. As reported by RÚV, the findings appear in a report by the Icelandic Media Commission and Netvís, and is based on survey data collected by Maskína. What's the Story? Survey by the Icelandic Media Commission and Netvís using data collected by Maskína on public attitudes to artificial intelligence in Iceland 42% reported using artificial intelligence tools at least weekly; most commonly for information searches or writing assistance 52.3% expressed concern about AI’s future impact; 44% said it could threaten democracy; over 90% reported seeing AI-generated images or videos mistaken for real content A man analyses data on a computer screen. Photo: Rawpixel. Public domain. Public attitudes examined According to the report, 42% of respondents said they use artificial intelligence tools at least once a week. Most reported using them to search for information, while just over half said they use them to assist with writing or word processing. Public awareness of AI-generated content also appears to be high. More than 90% of respondents said they had encountered a photo or video they initially believed to be real but later discovered had been created using artificial intelligence. The survey also found that 52.3% of respondents expressed concern about the future impact of artificial intelligence, while 44% said they believe the technology could pose a serious threat to democracy. Around eight in ten respondents said they expect artificial intelligence to increase the spread of propaganda from abroad in Iceland. Views varied by age group. More than half of respondents aged over 60 said they had little or no trust in information produced by artificial intelligence, compared with nearly 30% among those aged 18 to 39. Most respondents supported policy responses, including increased education about artificial intelligence in schools and legislation to protect individuals’ personal characteristics.