Opinions on benefits and risks with AI vary among the public and AI experts with men being more optimistic than women. The public and experts are far apart in their enthusiasm and predictions for AI. But they share similar views in wanting more personal control and worrying regulation will fall short, a US survey by Pew Research Center shows. AI experts are far more positive than the public about AI’s potential, including on jobs. Both groups want more personal control of AI and worry about lax government oversight.
Both experts and the public see men’s views as better represented in AI design than the views of women. 75% of experts say the people who design AI take men’s perspectives into account at least somewhat well – but 44% say this about women’s views.
The public also sees men’s views as better represented than women’s, even as about four-in-ten are unsure, the survey says.
Key findings:
- Experts are far more positive and enthusiastic about AI than the public. Experts are far more likely than Americans overall to believe AI will have a very or somewhat positive impact on the US over the next 20 years (56% vs. 17%).
- 47% of experts are more excited than concerned about the increased use of AI in daily life versus 11% among the public.
- By contrast adults as a whole – whose concerns over AI have grown since 2021 – are more inclined than experts to say they’re more concerned than excited (51% vs. 15% among experts).
- Experts believe AI technologies will benefit (76%) rather than harm (15%) them personally.
- The public is far more likely to think AI will harm them (43%) than benefit them (24%). One-third say they’re unsure.
- 73% of AI experts say AI will have a very or somewhat positive impact on how people do their jobs over the next 20 years versus 23% among adults.
- Both groups are sceptical of AI’s role in news and elections. Only about one-in-ten adults and experts think AI will have a positive impact on elections. Small shares in each group say the same for news.
- Similar shares of the public and experts want more control and regulation of AI. 55% of adults and 57% of AI experts say they want more control over how it is used in their lives. And those in both groups worry more that government regulation of AI will be too lax than overly excessive.
Previous Pew Research surveys have shown that women are often more wary than men about AI. This is the case also in the new survey. 22% of men think AI will positively impact the US compared with 12% of women.
“These differences are even wider among the experts surveyed: 63% of men say AI’s impact on the US over the next two decades will be very or somewhat positive, compared with 36% of women”, the Pew says.
“Among experts, men are also more likely than women to say they’re more excited than concerned about AI (53% vs. 30%) or think AI will personally benefit them (81% vs. 64%).”
“Throughout our prior work, the public has been wary about AI’s role in job loss. In our current survey, 64% of the public thinks AI will lead to fewer jobs over the next 20 years. Far fewer experts surveyed say the same (39%).”
“Some jobs – like cashiers – are widely viewed as at risk. About three-quarters of U.S. adults and AI experts alike say that over the next 20 years, AI will lead to fewer jobs of this kind in the US. About half or more also say this for journalists, software engineers and factory workers.”
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