Artificial intelligence is increasingly woven into the fabric of daily life, often in ways that are subtle or unnoticed. Yet its impact is undeniable — reshaping how people live, think, work, wage peace, fight and interact with the world. Concern
From business and education to healthcare and household tasks, AI is here to stay, steadily transforming society at every level.
Still, public perception of AI varies widely across regions, cultures, and economies. Measuring global awareness and attitudes toward AI remains challenging, like mapping a landscape of peaks and valleys that reflect the social, economic, and political diversity of the modern world.
A recent Pew Research Center survey sought to better understand global sentiment about the growing influence of AI by collecting opinions from citizens across 25 countries.
AI Awareness: A Mixed Landscape
According to the study, awareness of AI is far from universal. Across the surveyed countries 34% of adults reported having heard or read a lot about AI, 47% said they’ve heard a little, and 14% said they’ve heard nothing at all.
Awareness tends to be higher in wealthier nations. For instance, around half of adults in countries such as Japan, Germany, France, and the U.S. are highly aware of AI.
In contrast, only 14% in India and 12% in Kenya reported significant familiarity with the technology. This indicates a strong correlation between a country’s income level (measured by GDP per capita) and its population’s AI awareness.
Public Sentiment: More Concern Than Excitement
When it comes to feelings about AI’s growing role, concern outweighs excitement in most countries surveyed: A median of 34% say they are more concerned than excited, 42% are equally concerned and excited, and only 16% are more excited than concerned.
It’s worth noting that a median, in this context, represents the middle value among all countries’ responses—helping highlight broader global patterns.
Countries such as the United States, Italy, Australia, Brazil, and Greece report the highest levels of concern, with about half of adults in these nations expressing unease about AI.
Contrastingly, only 16% of adults in South Korea say they are primarily concerned.
Interestingly, in many countries, the dominant view isn’t concern or excitement, but a balanced mix of both.
Notably, no country surveyed had more than three-in-ten adults who were mainly excited about AI’s growing presence.
Trust in AI Regulation: Divided Perspectives
The survey also explored whether people trust various governments—including their own, as well as the U.S., China, and the European Union—to regulate AI effectively.
In most cases, people trust their own government. This is especially true in India (89%), Indonesia (74%), and Israel (72%). Trust is significantly lower in places like Greece, where only 22% believe their government can regulate AI effectively.
In the United States, public opinion is divided: 44% of Americans trust their government to regulate AI, while 47% do not.
The wizard who fuses art and artificial intelligence for cinematic magic
Political affiliations also influence trust. In the U.S., for instance, 54% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents trust the government to manage AI, compared with just 36% of Democrats and Democratic leaning people.
Whether concerned, excited, or somewhere in between, one thing is clear: the conversation among people about AI is just beginning, and its outcomes will shape the future for generations to come. Stay aware and stay tuned!
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Huma Nisar is Associate Editor at Views and News. She also writes opinion articles on health, society and diet.
