Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming industries, governments, and societies worldwide—but what do people really think about it?
In this report, Visual Capitalist’s Marcus Lu highlights public attitudes toward AI across 21 countries, based on a global survey of over 1,000 respondents in each nation. Participants rated their overall opinion on AI from “very positive” to “very negative.” The data comes from the Global Public Opinion on Artificial Intelligence (GPO-AI), published by the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society.
Emerging Economies Lead in AI Optimism
India emerged as the leader in the survey, with 43% of respondents expressing a “very positive” opinion of AI. Kenya (29%) and Brazil (27%) followed closely. These findings indicate that people in emerging economies are more optimistic about AI’s potential benefits, likely due to expectations of job creation, economic growth, and enhancements in public services.
Conversely, a majority in developed nations maintained neutral views. In Japan, 44% of participants felt neutral about AI, followed by Germany and Poland, both at 40%. This cautious perspective may reflect increased awareness of discussions surrounding AI ethics, job displacement, and regulatory concerns.
Negative Views Strongest in the West
The U.S., France, and Australia reported the highest levels of negative sentiment. Notably, 34% of U.S. respondents held either a “fairly” or “very negative” view of AI. This skepticism may be linked to political divisions, worries about misinformation, and fears of job loss in white-collar sectors.
