Exclusive: Trust in AI is much higher in China than in the U.S.
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Trust in artificial intelligence is significantly higher in China than in the United States, according to new data from the Edelman Trust Barometer shared first with Axios.
Why it matters: The pace of AI adoption won't solely be determined by how fast the technology itself advances, but also by the willingness of businesses and individuals to use it.
By the numbers: Edelman's latest research found that 72% of people in China trust AI, compared with just 32% in the United States.
- Not only is trust higher in China, it's higher in much of the developing world than it is in the United States, according to Edelman's research.
- Trust in AI was highest in India, at 77%, followed by Nigeria at 76%, Thailand at 73% and then China.
- Only six of the surveyed countries ranked lower than the U.S. in their trust in the new technology: Canada (30%), Germany (29%), the Netherlands (29%), United Kingdom (28%), Australia (25%) and Ireland (24%).
- Globally, 52% of men said they trusted AI vs. 46% of women, with younger people significantly more trusting of the technology than older folks.
- In the U.S., AI was trusted more by Democrats (38%) than Republicans (34%) or independents (23%).
- Higher-income respondents were also more trusting (51%) than those with middle (45%) or low (36%) incomes.
The big picture: It's not just AI that's facing a lack of trust. The tech sector, once one of the most trusted sets of institutions, has seen significant decline in recent years. While nearly three-quarters of Americans said they trusted tech companies a decade ago, that number is now 63%.
- "This shift reflects a growing perception that technology is no longer just a tool for progress, it is also a source of anxiety," Edelman Global Technology Chair Justin Westcott said in the report.
- Job fears play a part in this, with 58% of people worried about displacement due to automation. But it's not just that: More than 3 in 5 people are worried about AI-driven misinformation, for example.
- Companies need to do a better job of explaining how jobs and society will evolve as AI grows more powerful, Westcott said.
- "AI can be a force for progress, efficiency, and inclusion," Westcott wrote. "But it will take deliberate action to ensure that people trust its potential as much as they believe in its power."
