King’s Digital Futures Institute and RAi UK Roundtable event on AI: friction, rejection, and resistance

Despite being pitched as an opportunity, the rapid adoption of AI has sparked a backlash. AI tools promise transformative benefits but concerns around safety, privacy, ethical use, and automation have fuelled scepticism. A recent flash poll by global communications firm Edelman found that, globally, rejection for AI outweighs enthusiasm, with 46% of UK respondents stating they reject AI.

AI’s ability to remove friction by automating decisions and streamlining processes can sometimes backfire, stripping away the natural checks, delays, and deliberation that prevent harm. When systems become too seamless, they can become counterproductive. What was designed for efficiency ends up exacerbating the very problems it sought to solve.

This policy roundtable will explore the roots of public resistance to AI, examining the social, cultural, technological and economic factors driving this pushback. What are the most pressing fears shaping public perception? And how can we ensure these voices are heard and taken seriously?

This event is by invitation only.