The world is using AI more. The U.S. is still wary.
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Global perceptions of AI are improving, but the U.S. remains skeptical, according to a new poll from Google and Ipsos.
Why it matters: AI is moving quickly into work, education and daily life, but Americans trail much of the world in usage, excitement and confidence — gaps that could shape who sets the rules and norms for AI's future.
The big picture: Google says the new poll shows three big shifts in AI usage in the last three years.
- AI has crossed from experimentation to everyday utility.
- Learning something new and understanding complex topics has overtaken entertainment as the top use case.
- Global optimism about AI's impact on people has improved, especially among those who actually use the tools.
The intrigue: Positive perceptions and usage rise together.
- Countries and individuals who use AI more are also more optimistic about its benefits.
By the numbers: Nearly 70% of people who've used AI say they're more excited about the possibilities than concerned with the risks.
- Of those who say they use AI "a lot," 86% are excited.
- Among those who say they know "a lot" about AI, 80% are excited and only 20% are concerned.
Reality check: In the most developed countries — especially English-speaking ones like the U.S., the U.K. and Canada — adoption of AI, enthusiasm for the tech and optimism about its economic impact all trail the global average, the report finds.
- People in the U.S., Canada and France are all less likely to say that students and educators will benefit from AI than those in the rest of Europe, Asia-Pacific and emerging markets.
- The survey also shows Americans are far less likely to say that the government is doing a good job using AI.
What they did: Google partnered with Ipsos to conduct 21,000 interviews across 21 countries to understand public attitudes toward AI.
The bottom line: Many Americans still don't trust or want AI in their lives, but public hesitation is unlikely to stop the tech giants, especially with the Trump administration's support.
