Germans support new technologies and discover the benefits of AI

Munich, 26 June 2025

Germans are open to new technologies. 65 percent of respondents who use AI are fascinated by it. However, the priorities of Germans are shifting: The representative forsa survey, designed by acatech – German Academy of Science and Engineering, shows that 50 percent support research for military defence at German universities. Typically, 62 percent support technical innovations only if they are consistent with the common good. 45 percent demand more participation, but only 9 percent feel sufficiently informed by the government about the consequences of technology.

Party-political differences when it comes to support for military research

Half of all Germans support research that can be used for military purposes at universities, provided it serves national defence. Only 17 percent fundamentally oppose this. The opinions vary more significantly when considering the voting behaviour of respondents in the last federal election: voters from the FDP (68 percent), CDU/CSU (67 percent), SPD (53 percent) and Bündnis90/Die Grünen (51 percent) largely agree. Among voters of the Linke (27 percent), BSW (33 percent), and AfD (41 percent), only a minority supports military research. Three out of five Germans reject the use of artificial intelligence to control autonomous weapons systems – regardless of their political affiliation.”

“The debate on dual use shows: The distinction between civilian and military research is often artificial. What matters is that research and innovation serve peaceful purposes and protect our society – this is the standard we should be guided by. This standard is shared by the majority of Germans,” says acatech president Jan Wörner.

 

 

Desire for more participation with regard to controversial technologies

Many Germans feel poorly informed about the potential consequences of technology: only 9 percent believe the government sufficiently informs them. 48 percent of Germans trust the expertise of scientists and professionals in decisions about controversial technologies, particularly voters of Bündnis90/Die Grünen (61 percent) and the Linke (59 percent). At the same time, 45 percent of respondents demand more participation regarding controversial technologies, while only 18 percent oppose this. Among voters of AfD and BSW, 65 percent want more participation.

“Despite all the fake news and alternative facts in social media, scientific expertise plays an indispensable role in nearly all political factions within the population when it comes to assessing technologies and their use in the economy and society. At the same time, especially the voters of AfD and BSW want more participation. Overall, academies and scientific organizations should invest more in science communication as credible actors and advocate for the development and implementation of fact-based, fair, and ethically reflective participation formats,” says Ortwin Renn, co-leader of the study.

Ambivalent Attitude Towards AI

When it comes to Artificial Intelligence (AI), Germans are ambivalent: they recognize the benefits of AI for society, but they are also aware of the risks. Respondents rated the use of AI in medical diagnostics the most positively (useful: 66 percent / risky: 34 percent). For autonomous AI agents (useful: 38 percent / risky: 34 percent) and AI-supported content production (useful: 52 percent / risky: 44 percent), the perceived benefits and risks roughly balance out one another.

90 percent of respondents demand clear labelling of AI-generated content. Overall, there is a positive fundamental attitude among those with experience in AI: many find that generative AI makes work a lot easier (50 percent) and are fascinated by its performance (65 percent).

Highest priority for internal security and public infrastructure

In terms of future challenges, Germans are setting new priorities: For the first time, internal security and the improvement of public infrastructure are considered important or very important tasks by 91 percent. The previous leader, securing jobs, ranks third with 90 percent.

In 2025, all groups consider ensuring digital access in rural areas (86 percent) to be more important than data protection (77 percent) or regulated immigration (74 percent). The limitation of global warming is losing importance and has dropped to the last position (68 percent). Only among those aged 16 to 34 (73 percent) and the academically educated (79 percent) does the topic remain in the middle range.

“Major crises such as the Corona pandemic, the Russian war of aggression, or political uncertainties change little about the fundamental technological attitudes in Germany. Even current developments such as generative AI, smart home technologies, or digital platforms do not shake this stability,” says Mike Schäfer, co-leader of the study.

Digitalization makes life more comfortable – but conflicts of interest remain

62 percent of Germans experience a noticeable gain in comfort from digital technologies. The respondents view the impact of digitalization on social relationships and mental health critically: only 9 percent believe that digital technology improves our social life. Young people, in particular, are concerned: 47 percent of those aged 16 to 34 believe it makes them mentally ill. Among over 65-year-olds, only 28 percent share this opinion.

The questions regarding data protection, willingness to pay for services, utility, and comfort reveal conflicts of interest: only 37 percent of Germans would forego comfort for better data protection. However, less than a third (32 percent) want to pay for comfort. 39 percent prefer free offers, even if these collect personal data. At the same time, 69 percent believe that market concentration in the hands of a few large digital corporations brings disadvantages for society. Six out of ten Germans are therefore concerned.

No blanket hostility towards technology – context matters

The Technology Radar 2025 continues to debunk the stereotype of German hostility towards technology. People assess technologies in a nuanced and application-oriented manner: a clear majority views renewable energies positively (useful: 70 percent / risky: 12 percent). Many Germans are more critical of surveillance technologies (useful: 54 percent / risky: 41 percent) and especially of genetically modified crops (useful: 23 percent / risky: 57 percent). 64 percent disagree with the assumption that technology can solve all problems. At the same time, only 15 percent believe that it creates more problems in the long run than it solves.

“We need technological innovations from science to address the current societal challenges. It’s important that technological progress should always serve the common good. Today’s study results demonstrate this. And that was exactly the founding idea of the Carl Zeiss Foundation over 130 years ago,” says Felix Streiter, Managing Director of the Carl Zeiss Foundation.