'Calm-nervous' is the 'very Chilean' attitude towards the rise of AI

Chileans have adopted a uniquely 'calm-nervous' stance regarding Artificial Intelligence (AI), according to Nicolás Fritis, CEO of Ipsos Chile. This attitude reflects a mature engagement with the technology, moving away from initial extremes of pure excitement or fear.

Fritis explained that this balanced approach is characteristic of Chilean sentiment. "In Chile, we have maintained a position that, in a way, (...) is very Chilean, which is that we move in the balance very much in the middle of the ranking between enthusiasm and nervousness. So, it's like everything here in Chile, we say we are 'calm-nervous'," he stated. This sentiment arises as the initial novelty of AI tools, like ChatGPT, has worn off. Four years ago, the rapid emergence of such technologies sparked significant enthusiasm about potential changes, but these indicators have since declined.

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In Chile, we have maintained a position that, in a way, (...) is very Chilean, which is that we move in the balance very much in the middle of the ranking between enthusiasm and nervousness. So, it's like everything here in Chile, we say we are 'calm-nervous'.

Concerns about AI leading to widespread job losses initially fueled considerable nervousness among the population. However, this apprehension has also decreased over the past year. Despite this underlying caution, the overall outlook on AI in Chile is positive. Currently, Chileans perceive more advantages than disadvantages in AI adoption, especially concerning its application in basic services and social welfare.

The healthcare sector, in particular, is viewed as an area where AI holds the greatest promise for transformative impact. This suggests a pragmatic approach where potential benefits for societal well-being are weighed against the risks.

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When Artificial Intelligence was arriving, the fear that it would take away many jobs, many employments, was quickly installed, and there was a lot of nervousness. And the nervousness also fell in the last year.