More than three-quarters of Romanians (76 percent) see Artificial Intelligence (AI) as an opportunity for the economy and society, although half of them also acknowledge its risks, adopting a balanced stance on the development of this technology. However, the optimism surrounding AI’s potential is tempered by a considerable dose of concern.
Over one-third of respondents (35.7 percent) believe that AI will primarily lead to job losses, even if new types of roles will also emerge. Another 42 percent anticipate a balanced outcome: the disappearance of certain jobs offset by the emergence of others in similar proportions, while only 11 percent believe AI will generate more jobs than it will eliminate, according to the latest study on Romanian perceptions of AI, conducted by RoCoach and Novel Research in May–June 2025.
Concerns over AI’s impact on employment increase with age and are more pronounced among individuals with lower levels of education. In contrast, among active users of AI technologies, nearly 67 percent view AI as a major opportunity, compared to just 18.7 percent among those who have heard of AI but never used it.
Job security isn’t the only concern – Romanians are also wary about AI being used in performance evaluations. Only 20.2 percent of respondents support AI conducting evaluations independently, without human oversight, while nearly 40 percent are open to AI involvement only if assessments are carried out jointly with a human manager. Over 35 percent of respondents express discomfort with automated evaluations and outright reject them.
Romanians want the state to support AI training and workforce development
More than half of Romanians (64.6 percent) believe that the state should actively support professional training in AI, particularly within strategic industries (36.9 percent) or to prevent technological unemployment (27.7 percent). Public perception thus indicates a clear expectation for the state to prepare the economy for AI-driven transformation. Young people (ages 18–29) are the most vocal segment, with 45 percent believing AI could become a strategic pillar for Romania’s competitiveness. Their expectation is for the government to foster a national strategy that promotes private investment, innovation, and talent development to ensure Romania keeps pace in the emerging AI-driven global economy.
“Research confirms that Romanians are not resistant to change, but they seek balance and protection. We see a society that doesn’t reject AI, but rather looks for clear reference points to integrate it smoothly into professional life. And in the face of a paradigm-shifting phenomenon, we must build more than just technical skills – we must cultivate discernment, adaptability, and human-centered leadership. Romania has a unique opportunity to create a smart integration model for new technologies, through education, reskilling, and policies that bridge digital divides,” says Mihai Stănescu, founder of RoCoach, Romania’s first coaching company and developer of the Organizational Transition Quotient (ORQ).
Amid heightened social polarization, especially during the recent electoral process, RoCoach and Novel Research are launching this AI perception study not just to gauge attitudes toward technology, but to explore how Romanians envision their future in a rapidly changing society. AI has become not only a technological issue, but a reflection of trust, digital literacy, social anxiety, and our collective capacity to adapt.
Through this initiative, RoCoach and Novel Research aim to open a space for dialogue between policymakers, the business environment, and society on a topic that, in the near future, could generate unprecedented social impact.
“Our goal with this study was to explore the social implications of a technology already transforming the economy, labor market, and human interaction. The results reveal a society that is polarized not only politically, but also digitally, with significant generational, regional, and educational disparities. In such a context, AI can either serve as a catalyst for inclusion or become a driver of exclusion. For Romania to navigate this transition successfully, we need coherent policies, leaders grounded in reality, and decisions that reflect people’s actual perceptions and needs”, says Marian Marcu, Managing Partner of Novel Research.
The study was conducted on a sample of 800 individuals from urban areas, aged 18 to 64, professionally active and internet users. Data collection took place in May-June 2025 using the CAWI method (Computer Assisted Web Interviews).