A new Pugh research study suggests that Americans are meeting the AI boom with more side-eyes than excitement.
Half of respondents said they were more concerned than excited about AI sneaking into everyday life.
This is a slight decline from 52% in 2023, but up from just 37% in 2021.
So, what is causing trouble? First of all, there is a fear that AI can reduce human creativity and reduce the ability to form meaningful connections.
Basically, if your brain feels mushy after asking ChatGpt to write a birthday card, then you are not alone.
And when it comes to romance, the rejection is even more clear. Two-thirds of Americans don't want AI near dating life.
Only 18% believe they should play a role in matchmaking, and only 3% are cool as they play a “big role.”
Religion is another no-go zone. A large 73% of people said AI has no business offering mental advice.
Americans are fine for AI to help forecast weather and calculate medical data, but they want them to be far away from their minds and souls.
Misinformation was also the biggest concern. 18% named it their number one fear, and while many said it was important to be able to communicate human work from machine output, more than half admitted they were not convinced they could actually do that.
This adds a twist. It's a younger person, not an older person, it's even more surprising. Fifty-seven percent of Americans under the age of 30 worry that AI will erode human abilities compared to just 46% of elderly people. (via: Barge))
Usually, the younger generation will first embrace new technology. This time they're going to hit the brakes.
Overall, 61% of Americans want to have more control over how AI is used in their lives, while 57% feel they have little control.
Take it home? Silicon Valley is busy selling AI as our future, but the average American seems less convinced and more interested in protecting it from dating apps than putting it in prayer.
Do American concerns about AI in dating and religion reflect justified concerns about technology, or are these natural resistance to changes that fade over time? Should younger generations be concerned that AI is more skeptical about human erosion, or does this skepticism actually show healthy critical thinking about new technologies? Please tell us in the comments below or contact us via us Twitter Or Facebook.
