Poll Reveals Mixed Feelings on AI: Promise vs. Peril

Similar to how Americans viewed the internet as an omen of significant transformation a quarter-century ago, most people hold this sentiment today as well. artificial intelligence will have a big effect on society. But more so than the internet at the time, AI is seen by many as creating more problems than it solves, with misleading AI content and AI companies' impact on the economy both areas of concern.

AI's perceived impact on work looks especially mixed. More think AI will make jobs in their field easier than harder, but relatedly, Americans are likelier to see AI as decreasing than increasing the number of jobs available.

There are large differences by educational attainment, with college degree holders more likely than those without degrees to say it will make jobs easier in their field. That suggests that when it comes to the way people do their work, the public mainly sees AI impacting computer-based and white-collar jobs.

College grads are also likelier than those without college degrees to see the development of AI and AI companies as good for the economy. That said, the view that AI is more likely to reduce than increase the number of jobs is broad-based, spanning all levels of educational attainment.

Americans are quite mixed on AI's potential impact on the economy. On balance, they are more likely to see the development of AI and AI companies as being bad for the economy than good. This is a major difference in sentiment from the early internet years. In CBS News polling done in 1999, seven in 10 felt the "rapid growth in the number of internet companies" was good for the economy. Notably, Americans are also much less optimistic than AI experts , particularly on the potential benefits of the technology for work and the economy.

In what ways can AI perform more effectively?

Some activities that most Americans believe artificial intelligence can perform more effectively than humans include searching the web, fixing writing and grammatical errors, and examining data. These tasks often involve structure and may seem monotonous to many individuals.

The range of tasks where people believe AI underperforms compared to humans is extensive and revealing. Many emphasize interpersonal abilities, such as offering customer support. Others highlight creative endeavors, including making art, an area where AI lags far behind human capabilities according to most individuals. Additionally, certain activities might require greater decision-making prowess and carry significant consequences. Such responsibilities encompass diagnosing illnesses, managing finances, and notably, operating vehicles—a task on which the highest proportion agree AI struggles with immensely.

Individuals have varied opinions on whether artificial intelligence can generate more precise data than humans do currently. Regardless of whether it can accomplish this, fifty percent of Americans hold differing views on this matter. very worried about AI being employed to generate fake or deceptive images, data, and video content. Ninety percent have some level of concern regarding this issue.

Even though a slight majority believes they can fairly accurately differentiate between AI-generated and human-created content, only a small number claim they can do so with great precision. For those who do not personally utilize AI—a group comprising most Americans—the vast majority does not think they have the ability to discern such differences even moderately well.

Public comprehension and individual utilization of artificial intelligence

About sixty-seven percent believe they comprehend artificial intelligence well. This aligns with what was observed in our 1999 surveys about the internet, and we notice comparable divisions across different population segments as before. Currently, people in America tend to describe their knowledge more often as moderately good rather than highly proficient, indicating potential for further improvement over time.

AI comprehension and application vary significantly with age. Approximately eighty percent of Americans below 45 believe they grasp AI well, whereas this figure drops to roughly fifty percent for those aged 65 and above. Individuals holding college degrees exhibit greater familiarity with AI compared to others, and men tend to be more knowledgeable than women on this subject. Furthermore, men express more optimism regarding AI’s effect on the economy than their female counterparts.

Many people believe it’s not essential to utilize AI nowadays to stay current. Among them, four out of every ten individuals admit to using AI themselves, and those users are more inclined to employ it for personal purposes rather than professional ones. Those rare individuals who primarily use AI at work claim a deeper comprehension of AI and generally think it will simplify tasks within their profession.

Those stating that individuals must utilize AI to stay current account for nearly forty percent, similar to opinions regarding the internet expressed in 1999. Just like before, those adopting new technologies sooner tend to be younger men. Additionally, younger folks are more prone to report using AI tools at their workplace.

Six in 10 say artificial intelligence will have a bigger effect on society than the internet did. That is significant, as the internet itself was seen as bringing about big change in its early years. In 1999, Gallup polling found that most Americans felt it was going to change society more than the introduction of the telephone and television.

The CBS News/Yougov poll was carried out using a national dataset comprising 2,351 U.S. adults surveyed from March 24-26, 2025. This data set was adjusted to reflect the demographics of all U.S. adults regarding factors such as gender, age, ethnicity, and educational background, aligning with information provided through the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey and Current Population Survey, along with voting patterns from the 2024 election. The study has an accuracy range within plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.

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