How People Around the World View AI

This report presents findings from a comprehensive survey conducted in spring 2025 exploring global attitudes toward artificial intelligence. The study covers 25 countries across different regions, including North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America, with over 28,000 participants.

The document analyzes three fundamental dimensions: the level of public knowledge about AI, the emotions its growing use in daily life evokes, and trust placed in different entities to regulate this technology. The findings reveal that although most people have heard at least something about AI, concern predominates over enthusiasm regarding its expansion. Specifically, more people express worry than excitement about the increase of AI in daily life.

The study identifies important patterns related to demographic and economic factors. Young adults show greater knowledge and enthusiasm toward AI than older people. There is also a significant correlation between countries' per capita income and familiarity with the technology. People with more education and those who use the internet constantly tend to be better informed and more optimistic about AI.

Regarding regulation, the document explores trust in four actors: each respondent's own country, the European Union, the United States, and China. Results show that most people trust their own governments and the EU more than the United States or China to regulate AI effectively. These perceptions are influenced by general opinion about each entity, age, political ideology, and support for populist parties in Europe.

This document is aimed at researchers, public policy makers, technology professionals, academics, and anyone interested in understanding public perceptions of one of the most transformative technologies of our time. It offers valuable data for those seeking to understand how different societies are responding to the artificial intelligence revolution and what factors influence these attitudes.

Key points

• Concern outweighs enthusiasm about the growing use of AI in daily life.
• Greater trust in own governments and the EU than in the U.S. or China to regulate AI.
• Knowledge about AI is correlated with country wealth.
• Young adults are more knowledgeable and optimistic than older generations.
• People with more education and frequent internet users show less concern.
• Political ideology influences trust in different AI regulators.