Governments and tech companies risk a popular backlash against artificial intelligence unless they better explain how it will be used, according to a British report.
Polling for the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) found widespread concern that AI will create a "computer says no" culture, in which crucial decisions are made automatically without consideration of individual circumstances.
If the public feel "victimised or disempowered" by intelligent machines, they may resist the introduction of new technologies, even if it holds back progress which could benefit them, the report warns.
Fear of inflexible and unfeeling automatic decision-making was a greater concern than robots taking humans' jobs among those taking part in a survey by pollsters YouGov for the RSA.
Despite recent publicity about the misuse of Facebook users' personal data to target online ads, issues surrounding social marketing were bottom of the list of concerns.
About 60 per cent of those questioned opposed automated decision-making by computers in recruitment and promotion choices and the same proportion said it should not be used to help courts judge whether to grant a defendant bail or recommend rehabilitation.
Just 11 per cent backed its use in recruitment and 12 per cent in the courts.
Use of automated decision-making in the immigration system was opposed by a margin of 54-16 per cent, in social security by 52-17 per cent, in healthcare by 48-20 per cent and in financial services by 48-27 per cent.
Only in the area of advertising and social media were opinions more balanced, with 28 per cent opposing its use against 26 per cent who supported it.
About 61 per cent of those questioned said their main concern about automated decision-making was AI does not have "the empathy or compassion to make important decisions".
Almost one-third (31 per cent) said the use of AI would reduce accountability, while just 22 per cent said they feared the loss of jobs.
"When people feel like they are under attack, they may resist change or innovation, even if this undermines progress and means that they also lose out on benefits," the report warns.
"Bringing citizens' voices 'into the loop' of innovation, its deployment and regulation could be one means of minimising risks and securing benefits."
