The continuous threat of malicious cyber-attacks and safety issues are severely affecting the adoption of innovative technology in the UK, it is claimed. Developments such as artificial intelligence (AI) are being snubbed due to concerns over hacking and the safety of AI driven devices, and the public’s reluctance to buy into the latest tech products could see the UK left behind. That’s according to a new study by SQS (Software Quality Systems). It suggests that almost 80 per cent of UK adults looking to buy AI products in the future may reconsider due to the threat of hackers targeting AI technology. And nearly half (48 per cent) claim they would not purchase AI technology at all due to the threat of cyber-attacks.
Similarly, emerging technologies such as self-driving vehicles are seen by the public as unsafe and unreliable. Only 28 per cent of the public believe autonomous vehicles will be safer than humans and over 65 per cent are concerned self-driving cars would crash. Nearly three out of five (59 per cent) people are convinced self-driving cars could be infiltrated by hackers, which, could result in horrific incidents or potential hostage scenarios. More than half 56 per cent of UK adults worry their connected home apps could be hacked into. Additionally, 40 per cent think break-ins would increase due to flaws in the security of the connected home, compromising the safety of their property.
While technology can transform lives, less than a quarter (24 per cent) of those surveyed believe home robots are safe with over half (52 per cent) concerned they could also fall victims to cyber-criminals with malicious intentions using these robots against them.
The firm claims these findings indicate an impact on the adoption rate of products. Nearly half (48 per cent) of people don’t believe smart homes will be a reality until at least 2037, falling behind the likes of North America and the Asia-Pacific region in the global race to use emerging technologies.
Comment
SQS’ CEO, Dik Vos, said: “Emerging technologies should be embraced as early as possible if the UK is to gain an economic and technological advantage over countries who are willing to become early adopters. But for this to happen, the consumer trust issues that we have uncovered need to be addressed first.
“Safety concerns and cyber vulnerabilities should be the top priority for companies developing innovative technology, rather than added as an afterthought or worse, once catastrophe has already struck. It is crucial that companies adopt a quality-first approach to gain the trust of the consumer. If advances such as AI, self-driving cars, home robots and connected houses are going to take off in the UK, stringent software testing and quality assurance must be carried out at every stage of product development to guarantee the safety of this technology.”
