A Gallup survey covering 37 countries shows that in the vast majority of those nations, more adults feel positively about artificial intelligence (AI) than negatively. The findings indicate broad but varied optimism about how AI will affect personal lives and societies.
Key findings
- In 34 of the 37 countries polled, more adults reported positive feelings toward AI than negative ones.
- In 25 countries, a majority of adults who are aware of AI said it will improve their daily lives rather than harm them.
- In 18 countries, majorities of those aware of AI believed the technology will have a positive impact on their country overall.
Cross-country differences
Sentiment varies sharply by country. For example, in China, 93% of adults familiar with AI said they think it will help people. By contrast, in the United States only 36% of adults familiar with AI expressed the same belief.
Western anxiety and usage effects
Gallup notes that wealthier Western countries tend to show higher levels of anxiety about AI. However, the survey also finds that in countries where more people actively use AI technologies, concern about the technology tends to be lower.
Why it matters
The results suggest that public debate—driven in some places by dramatic warnings about AI risks or local controversies like protests against data centers—does not uniformly reflect global attitudes. In many countries, citizens display a more nuanced or optimistic view of AI’s potential benefits.
(Photo: Go Nakamura/Reuters)
Author: Morgan Chalfant
Note: The article summarizes the Gallup survey findings as reported; full country-by-country data and detailed statistics are available in the complete Gallup report.
