A new survey led by Rutgers University sheds light on public attitudes towards artificial intelligence, revealing widespread concerns about its impact on politics and media. According to the study, more than half of respondents expressed worry about AI’s influence on politics and news media, with fears of misinformation and manipulation being major concerns.
Researchers Katherine Ognyanova and Vivek Singh found that despite these concerns, one-third of Americans have used generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or Microsoft Copilot to ask health-related questions or seek information. The survey is part of the National AI Opinion Monitor, a long-term project monitoring public attitudes toward AI, and involved nearly 5,000 people across demographic groups.
Ognyanova and Singh note that understanding how Americans perceive and use AI is critical as trust in these technologies will shape their adoption, development, and regulation, with potential implications for industries like technology, media, entertainment, marketing, education, and healthcare.
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Public Perception
The increasing prevalence of artificial intelligence (AI) in daily life has sparked widespread interest and concern among Americans. A recent survey by Rutgers University-New Brunswick sheds light on public attitudes towards AI, revealing a complex landscape of opinions and concerns. The survey, which is part of the National AI Opinion Monitor (NAIOM), a long-term project monitoring public attitudes toward AI, found that more than half of respondents expressed worry about AI’s impact on politics and news media. This concern may stem from fears of misinformation and manipulation, particularly during election cycles.
The NAIOM survey provides valuable insights into how Americans perceive and use generative AI, a subset of AI technologies that focuses on creating original content, including text, images, audio, and video. The researchers define AI as a collection of advanced technologies that allow machines to perform tasks typically requiring human intelligence, such as understanding language, decision-making, and recognizing images. The survey found that one-third of Americans have used generative AI to ask health-related questions or seek information, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges associated with these tools.
The project was launched in response to the increasing prevalence of AI, which has the potential to transform a wide range of industries, including technology, media, entertainment, marketing, education, and healthcare. Understanding how Americans use and perceive AI is critical, as trust in these technologies will shape their adoption, development, and regulation. The researchers aim to examine AI’s impact on young people, older adults, and minority communities, providing a foundation for monitoring changes over time.
The survey results also highlight demographic disparities in AI usage and interest, with younger, male, better-educated, and higher-income Americans being more likely to use and show interest in AI tools. This raises critical questions about inclusion and equity, as older Americans and those with lower educational attainment may be less likely to benefit from these tools, risking the creation of a new digital divide.
Public Attitudes towards Artificial Intelligence
The NAIOM survey found that 90% of Americans have heard of AI, but only 51% recognize the term “generative AI,” and 12% are familiar with “large language models.” This knowledge gap highlights the need for education and awareness about AI and its applications. The survey also found that more than half of Americans (53%) have used a generative AI service such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or Microsoft Copilot, demonstrating the increasing influence of these technologies in daily life.
The researchers noted that task-specific approval for AI varies widely, with 48% of Americans supporting AI for household chores, but majorities disapproving of AI performing surgery (57%) or driving vehicles (53%). This suggests that Americans are cautious about the role of AI in critical tasks and are more likely to accept its use in routine or mundane activities. Nearly 30% of respondents encounter AI-generated text or summaries daily, with 86% finding them helpful.
The survey results also highlight concerns about the impact of AI on jobs and the economy. While some Americans see AI as a tool for increasing productivity and efficiency, others are worried about its potential to displace human workers. The researchers aim to explore these themes in more detail, examining the role of AI in jobs and its impact on different sectors of the economy.
Demographic Disparities and Inclusion
The NAIOM survey highlights significant demographic disparities in AI usage and interest, with younger, male, better-educated, and higher-income Americans being more likely to use and show interest in AI tools. This raises critical questions about inclusion and equity, as older Americans and those with lower educational attainment may be less likely to benefit from these tools.
The researchers noted that older Americans and those with lower educational attainment may face significant barriers to accessing and using AI technologies, including lack of access to devices, limited digital literacy, and inadequate training. This risks creating a new digital divide, where certain groups are left behind in the adoption and use of AI technologies.
To address these concerns, the researchers aim to examine AI’s impact on young people, older adults, and minority communities, providing a foundation for monitoring changes over time. They also plan to explore themes including AI adoption, trust, attitudes toward AI-generated content, regulation, and AI’s role in jobs, with a focus on understanding how different demographic groups are affected by these technologies.
Regulation and Policy Implications
The NAIOM survey provides valuable insights into public attitudes towards AI, highlighting the need for policymakers to consider the social and economic implications of these technologies. The researchers noted that regulation and policy will play a critical role in shaping the development and use of AI, particularly in areas such as job displacement, privacy, and security.
The survey results suggest that Americans are cautious about the role of AI in critical tasks and are more likely to accept its use in routine or mundane activities. This highlights the need for policymakers to develop nuanced and targeted regulations that balance the benefits of AI with its potential risks and challenges.
The researchers aim to provide data-driven insights into the evolving role of AI in society, offering a valuable resource for policymakers, media, and the public. By examining AI’s impact on different demographic groups and exploring themes such as adoption, trust, and regulation, the NAIOM survey provides a foundation for understanding the complex landscape of public attitudes towards AI.
Future Research Directions
The NAIOM survey provides a baseline for monitoring changes in public attitudes towards AI over time. The researchers plan to conduct national surveys three times a year with a sample of 5,000 respondents, including nationally representative quotas and oversamples of groups such as individuals under 25, those older than age 65, and Hispanic and Black respondents.
Future research directions will include exploring themes such as AI adoption, trust, attitudes toward AI-generated content, regulation, and AI’s role in jobs. The researchers also aim to examine the impact of AI on young people, older adults, and minority communities, providing a foundation for understanding how different demographic groups are affected by these technologies.
By providing ongoing tracking of public attitudes towards AI, the NAIOM survey will offer valuable insights into the evolving role of AI in society, highlighting areas where education, awareness, and regulation are needed to ensure that the benefits of AI are shared equitably among all Americans.
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