Public Concern Over AI Grows, New Data Shows

Recent survey data reveals a significant increase in public apprehension regarding the expanding role of artificial intelligence in everyday life. A new poll from the Pew Research Center found that 50% of American adults now report feeling more concerned than excited about AI, a notable rise from 38% in 2022.

This shift in public sentiment coincides with the widespread availability of generative AI tools like ChatGPT, which was released to the public in late 2022. The growing unease extends to specific applications, including AI's use in the workplace and its integration into web search results.

A Shift in Public Perception

The latest findings from Pew Research highlight a clear trend: as people interact more with artificial intelligence, their concerns appear to be growing. In 2022, before many generative AI platforms became household names, 38% of Americans expressed more concern than excitement. Today, that number has climbed to 50%.

This sentiment is not isolated to a general feeling about AI. A separate Pew poll indicated that the public is largely unenthusiastic about the usefulness of AI-powered web search summaries, such as Google's AI Overviews, and is skeptical of the information they provide.

This widespread unease suggests a complex public relationship with the technology. While many are curious about AI's capabilities, a significant portion of the population is wary of its potential negative consequences.

Understanding the Roots of AI Skepticism

There is no single cause for the souring public opinion on AI. Instead, a combination of factors appears to be driving the trend. Experts point to several potential explanations for why excitement is being tempered by caution and concern.

Overstated Promises and Underwhelming Reality

One significant factor may be the gap between how AI is marketed and how it performs in reality. Technology companies often present AI as a revolutionary solution, but for many users, the experience can be underwhelming or frustrating.

Gabriel Weinberg, CEO of the search engine company DuckDuckGo, noted the discrepancy. "It was promised as a magical solution to all sorts of things. In practice, it’s not ready for that," he said. He explained that many new AI tools are prone to errors or require extensive effort from the user to produce valuable results.

Weinberg stated that DuckDuckGo has found success with its own AI features by making them optional and limiting their scope, which helps reduce the frequency of errors and builds user confidence.

The Fear of Eroding Humanity

A deeper, more fundamental concern revolves around the potential for AI to diminish human skills and relationships. Eileen Yam, who directs Pew’s science and society research team, said that their research consistently finds this theme among AI pessimists.

"When Pew researchers dig into the concerns of AI pessimists, they frequently cite fear of the technology eroding human relationships and capabilities," Yam explained. Concerns about AI degrading the quality of information are also common.

In contrast, those who are optimistic about AI tend to focus on its potential to improve efficiency and augment human abilities. Yam suggests that public attitudes are not fixed and could evolve. She draws a parallel to the adoption of digital maps and calculators, which may have weakened certain skills but are not seen as having fundamentally altered our humanity.

A Perceived Lack of Choice

Another major source of public frustration is the feeling that AI is being imposed on them. Unlike previous technologies like smartphones or social media that required users to actively opt in, AI is increasingly integrated into existing software and platforms without explicit consent.

"You had to opt in," Yam said of past tech waves. "Now there’s a lot of ambient exposure to AI that I don’t necessarily choose." This lack of agency can lead to resentment, even among those who see value in the technology.

Katie Harbath, CEO of the technology consulting firm Anchor Change, shared a personal experience of this frustration. She felt angry when her book manuscript was analyzed by AI software without her prior knowledge or consent. While the feedback was useful, the lack of transparency was unsettling.

Harbath's experience illustrates a central conflict for many users: "both things can be true," she said. It is possible to want to use AI for its benefits while also resenting its use in ways that are unexpected or feel out of one's control.

Navigating a Polarized Landscape

As AI becomes more prevalent, society appears to be dividing into distinct camps of enthusiasts and skeptics. Harbath suggests that, similar to political partisanship, these beliefs can become more entrenched as people react to the perceived opposing viewpoint.

She advocates for a middle ground: experimenting with AI to understand its benefits while remaining mindful of its limitations and ethical lines. For her own work, Harbath uses ChatGPT to help organize research and edit drafts but acknowledges its pitfalls.

Recently, she relied more heavily on the tool for writing and felt the output "doesn’t sound as much like me." This highlights the trade-offs users face between convenience and authenticity. The growing public skepticism calls for more honest conversations from technology leaders, employers, and policymakers about the real-world challenges and anxieties surrounding this transformative technology.