AI was supposed to win people over by now — it hasn’t
Public sentiment toward artificial intelligence is declining, with polls showing increased concern and distrust among Americans. Tech companies are facing PR challenges and local opposition as they attempt to build the massive data centers required to support AI infrastructure.
Why it matters
The growing disconnect between AI industry promises and public perception poses a significant business and regulatory risk for major technology firms.
Despite its technological progress, AI’s reputation out in the real world is getting worse. On Wednesday, Axios reported that the National Republican Senatorial Committee sent a memo to top AI companies warning that U.S. data centers are hurting the party’s chances in a key Ohio election. At the same time, Pew Research released a study that found that Americans’ unease about AI is growing — 52% said they’re “more concerned than excited” about the increased use of AI in daily life, up from 37% in 2021.
A recent CNBC poll of 18- to 34-year-olds found that, when given the names of nine top leaders in the AI industry, a majority of the respondents said they don’t trust those people to “act responsibly” when it comes to AI. A May Economist/YouGov poll found that over 70% of Americans think AI is advancing too quickly. The list goes on.
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