New Poll: What Does the World Think About Artificial Intelligence?

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into the fabric of daily life, understanding public perception of this technology is essential. A major 2025 Pew Research Center global survey on AI across 25 nations reveals a complex global landscape of awareness, sentiment, and trust. The study, which included countries from North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, and beyond, shows that while most people have heard of AI, their feelings about it are marked more by caution and concern than by outright excitement. Furthermore, when it comes to who should regulate this powerful technology, publics around the world show clear preferences, generally placing more faith in their own governments and the European Union than in the United States or China.

Widespread but Uneven Awareness of AI

Familiarity with artificial intelligence is widespread, though the depth of that familiarity varies significantly from one country to another. Across the 25 nations surveyed, a median of 34% of adults report having heard or read a lot about AI. A larger portion, 47%, have heard a little, while only 14% say they have heard nothing at all about the technology. This means that in nearly every country surveyed, a majority of the public has at least some passing knowledge of AI.

However, the level of awareness is far from uniform. In Japan, 53% of the public has heard a lot about AI, a figure matched by 52% in France and 51% in Germany. In the United States, the number stands at 47%. In stark contrast, awareness is much lower in other parts of the world. Just 14% of adults in India and 12% in Kenya say they’ve heard a lot about AI, indicating a significant information gap.

One of the strongest patterns to emerge from the data is the correlation between a country’s economic status and its population’s awareness of AI. There is a direct relationship between a nation’s gross domestic product(GDP) per capita and the share of its citizens who are highly aware of AI. People in wealthier economies are consistently more likely to have heard a lot about the technology than those in less wealthy nations. For example, in the U.S., with a high GDP per capita, 47% are highly aware. In Kenya, which has a much lower GDP per capita, that figure is only 12%. This suggests that factors like media exposure, access to technology, and the prevalence of public discourse on the topic, which are often more common in higher-income countries, play a large part in shaping public awareness.

Demographic Drivers of AI Awareness

Beyond national wealth, several key demographic factors consistently influence how much people know about AI. These differences in awareness are seen across age groups, genders, education levels, and patterns of internet use.

Age is one of the most significant differentiators. In virtually every country included in the survey, younger adults are more likely than their older counterparts to have heard a lot about AI. The age gap is often substantial. In Greece, for instance, 68% of adults under the age of 35 have heard a lot about the technology, compared to only 20% of those aged 50 and older – a difference of 48 percentage points. A similarly large gap exists in South Korea, where the difference is 46 points. In Japan, 77% of young adults are highly aware, compared to 39% of older adults. These double-digit divides are present in almost every nation surveyed, highlighting a generational gap in engagement with the topic of AI.

Gender also plays a role in AI awareness. In more than half of the countries surveyed, men are more likely than women to report having heard a lot about AI. This gender divide can be quite large in some places. In Hungary, for example, 49% of men say they are highly aware of AI, while only 27% of women say the same, a 22-point difference.

Education is another powerful predictor of awareness. Across a majority of the surveyed countries, people with higher levels of formal education are significantly more likely to have heard a lot about AI than those with less education. This pattern holds true across different economic and cultural contexts, suggesting that educational attainment is a key factor in how information about new technologies is disseminated and absorbed.

Finally, internet usage habits are strongly linked to AI awareness. In every single country surveyed, people who describe themselves as being online “almost constantly” are far more likely to have heard a lot about AI than those who use the internet less frequently. In Poland, the difference is particularly stark: 68% of near-constant internet users have heard a lot about AI, more than double the 26% of less-frequent users who say the same. This indicates that the digital environment is a primary channel for information and discourse about artificial intelligence.

A World More Concerned Than Excited

When people are asked how the increased use of AI in daily life makes them feel, the prevailing sentiment is one of caution. Across the 25 countries, a median of 34% of adults say they are more concerned than excited. Only 16% report being more excited than concerned. The largest group, a median of 42%, states they are equally concerned and excited, balancing potential benefits against possible risks. Importantly, in no country surveyed does a majority or even a plurality of the public say they are mainly excited about the growing presence of AI.

Concern is especially high in several developed nations. In the United States and Italy, 50% of adults say they are more concerned than excited. This sentiment is shared by 49% in Australia, 48% in Brazil, and 47% in Greece. In these countries, a sense of apprehension clearly outweighs enthusiasm for the technology.

Conversely, some nations show much lower levels of concern. In South Korea, only 16% of the public is mainly concerned. In India, the figure is 19%, and in Israel, it is 21%. In these places, while excitement doesn’t dominate, the level of anxiety is markedly lower. In fact, in 15 of the 25 countries polled, the most common response is to be equally concerned and excited. This suggests that for many people around the world, the final verdict on AI is not yet in, and they are watching its development with a mix of hope and trepidation. In South Korea, for example, a large majority of 61% feel equally concerned and excited, as do 55% in Japan and 53% in Germany.

Who Feels What? The Demographics of AI Sentiment

Just as with awareness, people’s feelings about AI are shaped by their demographic background. Age, gender, education, and internet habits all correlate with whether an individual is more likely to feel concern or excitement about AI’s rise.

Older adults consistently express more concern than younger people. In 18 of the 25 countries, adults aged 50 and over are more likely than those under 35 to say they are mainly concerned about AI’s impact. In Greece, 59% of older adults are more concerned, compared to just 18% of younger adults, a 41-point gap. Similar, though less dramatic, gaps appear in Brazil (a 28-point difference) and Argentina (a 26-point difference). This suggests a generational divide in how the risks and rewards of AI are perceived.

Gender differences also emerge in some countries. Women are often more likely than men to express concern about the increasing use of AI. In the United Kingdom, for instance, 47% of women are more concerned than excited, a sentiment shared by only 32% of men.

Education level is another factor. In about half of the countries surveyed, people with less education are more likely to be mainly concerned about AI than their more educated counterparts. This aligns with the finding that this group is also less aware of the technology, suggesting that a lack of familiarity may breed apprehension.

Internet use is also linked to sentiment. In many countries, people who are online less often are more likely to be concerned about AI than those who are online almost constantly. The divide is particularly wide in Greece, where 52% of less-frequent internet users are more concerned, compared with just 20% of near-constant users.

Finally, a person’s level of awareness about AI is connected to their feelings about it. In many countries, people who have heard a lot about AI are more likely to be mainly excited about it. In South Korea, 39% of those highly aware of AI are more excited than concerned, compared to just 19% of those who have only heard a little. This indicates that deeper engagement with the topic, while not eliminating concern, may foster a greater appreciation for AI’s potential benefits.

Trust in Regulation: A Look at Global Powers and Domestic Governments

With the rapid development of AI, questions about governance and regulation are paramount. The survey asked people whom they trust to regulate the use of AI effectively, presenting four options: their own country’s government, the European Union, the United States, and China. The results show a clear hierarchy of trust, with people generally favoring domestic and regional oversight over that of distant global powers.

Across the 25 nations, a median of 55% of people trust their own country to regulate AI. The European Union follows closely, with 53% of people expressing trust. Trust drops significantly for the two global superpowers. Only 37% trust the United States to regulate AI effectively, and even fewer, just 27%, trust China to do so.

Trust in National Governments

Confidence in one’s own government to handle AI regulation varies dramatically around the world. Trust is exceptionally high in India, where 89% of the public believes their government can regulate AI effectively, including 71% who have “a lot” of trust. Similarly high levels of confidence are found in Indonesia (74%) and Israel (72%).

At the other end of the spectrum, some publics are highly skeptical of their own government’s capabilities. In Greece, only 22% trust their country to regulate AI, while 73% do not. Trust is also relatively low in Argentina (33%) and Brazil (36%). In the United States, the public is nearly evenly split, with 44% expressing trust in their government and 47% expressing distrust.

This split in the U.S. reflects a deep partisan divide. A majority of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents (54%) trust the U.S. to regulate AI, while a much smaller share of Democrats and Democratic-leaners (36%) feel the same. This pattern, where supporters of the governing party or parties express more confidence, is seen in most countries surveyed.

A person’s general feeling about AI also connects to their trust in domestic regulation. In 19 countries, people who are more excited about AI are more likely to trust their nation’s government to regulate it. In Greece, for example, those who are mainly excited about AI are 35 percentage points more likely than those who are mainly concerned to trust the Greek government’s regulatory ability.

The European Union as a Regulator

The European Union is seen as a relatively trustworthy regulator of AI, not only within its member states but also in many countries outside the bloc. A median of 53% of adults across all 25 countries trust the EU, while 34% do not.

Within the EU’s nine member nations that were surveyed, trust varies. It is highest in Germany (71%) and the Netherlands (68%), where large majorities have confidence in the EU’s regulatory approach. However, in other member states, confidence is much lower. Only 38% in Greece and 42% in Italy trust the EU on this matter.

Outside the EU, views are also mixed but often positive. Majorities in Nigeria (72%), Australia (59%), Indonesia (58%), Kenya (58%), and Canada (57%) trust the EU to regulate AI. The U.S. public is divided, with 43% trusting the EU and 40% not.

Several factors shape these opinions. Unsurprisingly, people who have a favorable view of the EU in general are far more likely to trust it with AI regulation. Ideology also plays a part. In some countries, people on the political left are more trusting of the EU than those on the right. Relatedly, supporters of right-wing populist parties in Europe are consistently less likely to trust the EU. For example, only 43% of supporters of Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) party trust the EU, compared with 78% of non-supporters. Finally, people with more education are more likely to trust the EU’s regulatory role in 19 of the countries surveyed.

The United States as a Regulator

The United States is viewed with considerable skepticism as a potential regulator of AI. A median of just 37% across the 25 nations trust the U.S. to regulate AI effectively, while a plurality of 48% do not.

Trust is highest in several African and Asian nations. Large majorities in Nigeria (79%), Israel (70%), India (64%), and Kenya (62%) express confidence in the U.S. However, these are exceptions. In most other countries, and particularly in Europe, the prevailing view is one of distrust. In France, 71% distrust the U.S. in this role, as do 67% in Australia and 58% in both Sweden and Greece. As noted, Americans themselves are divided on their own country’s ability to regulate AI.

Views on U.S. regulation are strongly tied to broader opinions about the country. In every non-U.S. country surveyed, people with a favorable opinion of the U.S. are much more likely to trust it on AI. Political ideology is another key factor. In 15 countries, people on the ideological right are more trusting of the U.S. than those on the left. In Australia, the ideological gap is 38 points (53% of the right trust the U.S., vs. 15% of the left). Similarly, supporters of right-wing populist parties in Europe are generally more trusting of the U.S. than non-supporters. Age also makes a difference, with adults under 35 being more likely to trust the U.S. than those 50 and older in 10 countries.

China as a Regulator

Of the four entities polled, China inspires the least confidence as a regulator of artificial intelligence. A median of only 27% of people across the 25 countries trust China to regulate AI effectively, while a large majority of 60% do not.

There are only a handful of countries where trust in China outweighs distrust, including Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Indonesia. In most of the world, distrust is the dominant sentiment. Majorities in nearly all European countries surveyed express little to no trust in China’s ability to regulate AI. Skepticism is extremely high in many Asia-Pacific nations. Just 15% in Australia, 13% in Poland, and a mere 7% in Japan trust China in this capacity. Americans are also among the most distrustful, with only 13% expressing confidence in China compared to 76% who do not.

As with the other entities, general views of China are a strong predictor of trust in its ability to regulate AI. People with a favorable opinion of the country are much more likely to trust it. The most significant demographic factor is age. In 19 of the 25 countries surveyed, adults under 35 are more trusting of China to regulate AI than adults aged 50 and older. In Spain, for example, 54% of young adults trust China, compared to just 21% of older adults. This suggests a significant generational difference in how China’s role in global technology governance is perceived.

Summary

The global public is actively grappling with the rise of artificial intelligence, but engagement and sentiment are far from uniform. Awareness of AI is widespread but is strongly correlated with national wealth, age, education, and digital connectivity, creating significant information gaps between different populations. The prevailing global mood is one of caution; more people are concerned or ambivalent than are purely excited about AI’s growing influence. In no nation does enthusiasm for AI represent the majority view. When it comes to governance, people place the most faith in institutions closest to home, their own national governments, and regional bodies like the EU. The global superpowers, the United States and particularly China, face widespread skepticism and are largely not trusted to regulate this technology effectively. Across all these issues, demographic fault lines – especially age, education, and political ideology – consistently shape how people understand and react to the ongoing AI revolution.

Last update on 2025-12-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API