A new study analyzes the perception of Romanians about the social and economic impact of Artificial Intelligence
A recent study by RoCoach and Novel Research, cited by News.ro, shows that almost a quarter of Romanians (24.7%) believe that AI-based technologies can help reduce social and economic differences, while almost as many (23.4%) fear that they will deepen the social gulf and favour a small circle of people who control or understand technology very well. Almost a third (36%) believe that the impact of AI will depend on government policies. Thus, more than half of Romanians (56.4%) believe that authorities should create clear regulatory and control mechanisms for the use of AI, and almost 48% argue that the government should ensure equal access to digital technology and training.
A national digital education strategy is considered an urgent need by 41% of Romanians.
Mihai Stănescu, founder of RoCoach and developer of the Organizational Transition Quotient (ORQ) indicator, says that “These differences are not just statistics – AI risks becoming a new criterion for separating those who have access to education, resources and opportunities from those who are lagging behind. The discussion about AI is, in fact, a discussion about the future of our society and how prepared we are to manage the transformations it brings. It is not technology itself that amplifies or reduces inequalities, but rather how we choose to integrate it into economic and social life. In an already lagging Romania, we need public leadership that takes into account not only technological progress but also its human impact”.
Younger generations are perceived as the most threatened by AI-based automation.
More than 62% of respondents believe that young people will be most affected, and a third say they do not feel professionally prepared for the changes ahead. At the same time, only 29% say that their organisation invests in courses/trainings to adapt to new technologies.
The survey was conducted on a sample of 800 people in urban areas, aged 18-64, working and using the internet. The responses were collected between May and June 2025 using the CAWI (Computer Assisted Web Interviews) method. More details can be found here.
