Russians are not ready to trust AI with their education

The study was conducted by an online survey among 1,153 respondents over 18 years of age from Russia and the CIS by experts from the HSE Institute for the Development of Creative Industries and the MAGRAM MR analytical agency. So, what are the Russians using AI for?

Slightly more than half of users turn to it for search, 41% for data analysis, 32.8% for work with texts. 30% use neural networks for household and routine tasks, 25% for generating ideas, 22% for training, 21% for creative activities. 18% use AI for self-development, 13% for code writing, 10% for planning.

The majority of AI users report speeding up work (65%), and 40% say they can solve more complex tasks. 32% say they can do more work, 14% say they can create more knowledge-intensive and technological results, and 11% say they can do more work.

The frequency of use of AI depends on the main activity of users: in the group “training” it is used by 71%, in “creativity” – 63%, in “analytics” – 60%, in “communications” – 55%. Among those whose activities are related to management, this figure is 47%, with sales - 41%, with production - 39.9%.

What skills is important for a person to develop? Most respondents prioritize fundamental thinking skills – logical, critical and systemic. 74% were in favor of logical thinking, 71% of critical thinking, and 70% of systems thinking. The priorities also included communication skills (44%), creativity and imagination (44%), emotional intelligence (39%) and self-reflection (40%).

The assessment of the benefits of AI for the development of key skills was low: most did not note a significant contribution of AI in any of the areas studied. At the same time, 26% of respondents see AI as a tool for improving their time management skills and productivity; 23% see it as a tool for developing systemic thinking; 21% believe that AI can help improve creativity and imagination (including generating unique ideas).

Even fewer respondents are willing to fully entrust AI with key skills, such as managing time and productivity (only 25%) or solving problems related to systems thinking (21%). 37% believe that none of these skills can be completely replaced by artificial intelligence.

The greatest hopes are placed on the use of AI in applied and precise disciplines. 48% consider its use in mechanical engineering, energy, robotics, engineering promising. 47% in mathematics, statistics, computer science, cybernetics and astronomy. 40% see the potential of neural networks in medicine and pharmaceuticals, 28% - in biology, botany, zoology, geology. Only 12% consider AI capable of breakthroughs in philology, linguistics, history and art history, and only 11% - in psychologists.

Users also demonstrated a request for transparency in the use of neural networks: 17% of respondents are important to know whether AI was used in the creation of intelligent or creative products.

At the same time, not everyone is ready to use educational and creative products based on AI. 58% are not ready to use books, music or images created by artificial intelligence, and only 31% are ready.

When asked about various educational products, such as courses, methods and textbooks, respondents showed even greater restraint. Only 22% expressed willingness to use them, while 63% categorically refused. Especially negative to educational and creative products were respondents aged 18 to 25 years, that is, potential students.

At the same time, the lion’s share of Russians is not ready to pay for educational or creative products if they are fully or mainly created using neural networks. So answered 79% and 78% of respondents, respectively.

“Neuronets replicate knowledge very effectively, reproduce or create new combinations. However, so far they cannot think critically or outside the box, said Natalia Turunova, an analyst at MAGRAM MR. The ability to pose a problem, search for answers to the question “why” and evaluate solutions from the point of view of human ethics remains the prerogative of the human mind.

A study of consumer trends has shown that customers require quick access to solutions, but are not willing to sacrifice quality for cost or time savings. He strives for individuality even in spite of fashion trends. More and more valued live communication, sincerity, meaning, authorship, the ability to create something of their own. AI automation often reduces the cost of the product in the eyes of the user, said Olga Vapnyarskaya, Deputy Director of the IRCI of HSE.