Exploring Citizen Awareness of AI Technologies in Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction

Abstract

This study seeks to explore the level of awareness, perceptions, trust, and concerns of citizens about the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in disaster preparedness and risk reduction. With the help of a descriptive quantitative approach, the data were collected from 100 respondents across cities and municipalities across the country through an online survey. The results show that while the citizens demonstrate awareness of both disaster preparedness and knowledge in AI concepts, their perception of AI’s effectiveness in disaster prediction and response remains neutral. The respondents express uncertainty about AI’s capability to produce accurate, reliable, and life-saving capabilities, resulting in the least trust and limited acceptance of AI-generated disaster result information. The issues and concerns include data privacy, technological failure, and the necessity of maintaining human intervention in AI-based systems. Overall, the study highlights a gap between trust and public awareness. Featuring the importance of transparency, proper communication, and community-level education to improve public confidence in AI-supported disaster management systems.