Initial results from a Gallup-Microsoft survey of people in 37 countries suggest AI is viewed more often as beneficial than harmful overall; only in the U.S., Egypt and Palestine did negative feelings outweigh positive ones.
Gallup said the project tracks awareness, frequency of use, emotional response, expected impact and trust. Across the surveyed countries, median awareness of AI tools was 81% and median daily use was 43%. A daily user was an employed person using AI each day for work or personal reasons, or an unemployed person using it daily. The study is expected to expand to 140 countries.
Gallup called the pattern the “Paradox of the Worried West.” Its senior scientist Pablo Diego-Rosell told 404 Media that the Netherlands, Canada, the U.K., New Zealand, Ireland and Malta also rank near the top for worry. More frequent use was associated with greater trust and belief AI could help create a better future, but Diego-Rosell said it is unclear whether use increases comfort or people who already trust AI use it more. He also said trust in AI’s accuracy is considerably lower than optimism about its potential.
