EA - AI X-risk in the News: How Effective are Recent Media Items and How is Awareness Changing? Our New Survey Results. by Otto

Link to original articleWelcome to The Nonlinear Library, where we use Text-to-Speech software to convert the best writing from the Rationalist and EA communities into audio. This is: AI X-risk in the News: How Effective are Recent Media Items and How is Awareness Changing? Our New Survey Results., published by Otto on May 4, 2023 on The Effective Altruism Forum.This is a summary of a follow-up study conducted by the Existential Risk Observatory, which delves into a greater number media items. To access our previous study, please follow this link. The data collected will be presented in two separate posts. The first post, which is the current one, has two parts. The first part examines the key indicators used in the previous research, such as "Human Extinction Events" and "Human Extinction Percentage," along with a new key indicator called "Concern Level." The Concern Level indicator assesses participants' level of concern about AI existential risk on a scale of 0 to 10 before and after the intervention. The second part analyzes the changes in public awareness about AI existential risk over time. It also explores the connection between the effectiveness of different media formats, namely articles and videos, and their length in raising awareness.In addition, it investigates how trust levels are related to the effectiveness of media sources in increasing public awareness of AI existential risk. In the second post, the research covers a new aspect of this study: participants' opinions on an AI moratorium and their likelihood of voting for it.PART 1: Effectiveness per media itemThis research aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of AI existential risk communication in increasing awareness of the potential risks posed by AI to human extinction.Research Objectives: The objective of the study was to determine the effectiveness of AI existential risk communication in raising public awareness. This was done by examining the changes in participants' views on the likelihood and ranking of AI as a potential cause of extinction before and after the intervention. Furthermore, the study evaluated the difference in the level of concern of participants before and after the intervention.Measurements and Operationalization: Three primary measurements - "Human Extinction Events," "Human Extinction Percentage," and "Concern Level" - were utilized to examine alterations in participants' perceptions. The coding scheme that was previously used in our research was employed to assess participants' increased awareness of AI. The data was gathered through Prolific, a platform that locates survey respondents based on predefined criteria. The study involved 350 participants, with 50 participants in each survey, who were required to be at least 18 years old, residents of the United States, and fluent in English.Data Collection and Analysis: Data was collected through surveys in April 2023. The data analysis comprised three main sections: (1) comparing changes in the key indicators before and after the intervention, (2) exploring participants' views on the possibility of an AI moratorium and their likelihood of voting for it, and (3) assessing the number of participants who were familiar with or had confidence in the media channel used in the intervention.Media Items Examined:CNN: Stuart Russell on why A.I. experiments must be pausedCNBC: Here's why A.I. needs a six-month pause: NYU Professor Gary MarcusThe Economist: How to stop AI going rogueTime 1: Why Uncontrollable AI Looks More Likely Than Ever | TimeTime 2: The Only Way to Deal With the Threat From AI? Shut It Down | TimeFoxNews Article: Artificial intelligence 'godfather' on AI possibly wiping out humanity: ‘It's not inconceivable’ | ArticleFoxNews Video: White House responds to concerns about AI development | VideoResults:Human Extinction EventsThe graph below displays the percentage of increased awareness across various media sources. The Economist survey showed the highest increase in awareness at 52 ...