Gallup poll: global optimism about AI outpaces trust, US lags behind
A 37-country Gallup–Microsoft survey finds positive feelings about AI outweigh negative ones almost everywhere, but trust in its accuracy remains low, especially in the US.
What to know
- Positive emotions toward AI outweigh negative ones in 34 of the first 37 countries surveyed by Gallup and Microsoft, with the study set to expand to 140 countries.
- Optimism about AI's benefits is far more widespread than trust in its accuracy: median trust across countries is only 36%, and trust exceeds a majority in just four countries.
- Wealthy Western countries, especially the United States (36% optimism about national impact), show the most anxiety, while China (93%), Vietnam (91%) and Singapore (77%) are most optimistic.
- Adoption varies enormously by country, from 96% AI awareness in Singapore to 12% in Malawi, though optimism does not always track actual usage.
Gallup Polling organization conducting the surveyMicrosoft Research partner on the AI engagement study
How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts
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Survey shows optimism outpacing trust in AI accuracy — Gallup found that in 35 of 37 countries more people expect AI to help their country than trust it to give accurate information, with median trust at just 36%; trust rises sharply among frequent users.
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Gallup publishes global AI sentiment survey with Microsoft — Gallup released findings from the first 37 of an eventual 140 countries in its ongoing AI engagement study with Microsoft, measuring awareness, use, expected impact, emotional response and trust.
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Semafor frames US anxiety against global AI optimism
Semafor's coverage highlighted that wealthy Western countries, particularly the United States, are the most anxious about AI even as much of the world, led by China, expresses strong optimism about its impact.
“Washington can’t stop talking about AI doom scenarios and the public backlash to data centers — but around the world, sentiment toward the fast-moving technology is much more nuanced.”
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In 34 out of 37 countries polled by Gallup, more adults express positive feelings about AI than do negative ones. In 25 of those countries, majorities of adults who are aware of AI say it will improve their daily lives, rather than negatively affect them.
1 more of the top 2 · 2 posts in this stretch
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While Washington can’t stop talking about AI doom scenarios and the public backlash to data centers, around the world, sentiment toward the fast-moving technology is much more nuanced. Read more from Morgan Chalfant:
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