A Global View of AI: Between Hopes and Doubts

As AI increasingly permeates every aspect of life — from employment and leisure to healthcare and surveillance — public perception across the globe reveals a mixed picture. According to a Pew Research Center study conducted in the spring of 2025 across 25 countries, only 14% report having “practically never heard of it.” (Pew Research Center)

However, enthusiasm is coupled with anxiety, and dynamics vary widely by region.

Latin America: Impatience, Hope… but Persistent Distrust

In Latin American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, etc.), the public shows a certain optimistic impatience: AI is viewed as an opportunity for technological catching-up, expanded access to services, and social transformation. At the same time, there is palpable concern linked to the potential disappearance of jobs, technological concentration, and dependence on large foreign platforms.

The demand for regulation is strong: a large number of Latin Americans express that AI needs to be framed rather than allowed to develop freely.

Western Countries: High Awareness of Issues, Growing Skepticism

In the United States, Canada, and Western Europe, AI is now a familiar subject—but the image is not triumphant. Many citizens are more worried than enthusiastic: in the 2025 Pew global survey, a median of 34% of adults in the polled countries say they are “more concerned than thrilled” about the increased use of AI. (Pew Research Center)

Trust in companies using AI is falling: globally, only 47% believe these companies protect personal data well. (hai.stanford.edu)

In Europe, trust in the European Union as a regulator is higher than in other regions, signaling a strong expectation of oversight. (Pew Research Center)

East and Southeast Asia: Dominant Enthusiasm, but Important Nuances

In China, Indonesia, and Thailand, the sentiment is overwhelmingly positive: 80% or more believe that AI services will bring more benefits than drawbacks. (hai.stanford.edu)

However, this great enthusiasm does not erase certain concerns: about data protection, algorithmic bias, or the redistribution of benefits.

Japan stands out with a more cautious attitude than its Asian neighbors, illustrating that wealth and technological maturity do not always rhyme with unreserved optimism.

Africa: Between Unfamiliarity, Hopes for Development, and Strong Concerns

In Africa, the situation is contrasted. In some countries, a significant portion of the population reports never having heard of AI. (Pew Research Center)

In others, particularly East Africa, AI is viewed with suspicion: a majority believes its effects may be rather negative for society.

Yet, in political and technological discourses in the region, AI is increasingly presented as a potential lever for development, provided it is accompanied by training, infrastructure, and regulation.

Oceania: High Awareness of Issues, Visible Discomfort

In these countries, AI is known and used, but public discomfort is high. A large portion of respondents reports “feeling nervous” about seeing AI gain ground.

The question of loss of control, privacy, and employment is particularly pronounced here.

Key Differences and Common Dynamics

• Optimism vs. Skepticism by Region: Emerging countries tend to be more optimistic, while developed countries are more skeptical. (hai.stanford.edu)
• Limited Trust: Globally, less than half of people believe that AI systems or companies are fully “fair,” “reliable,” or “respectful of data.” (hai.stanford.edu)
• Expected Regulation: A fairly broad consensus emerges: the technology cannot be left unregulated.
• Young/Connected vs. Less Informed: Younger, urban, educated audiences are more enthusiastic and confident; those less informed or in contexts of low digital access more often express distrust. (Pew Research Center)
• Focus on Employment: In many regions, the fear that AI will replace jobs or radically change working conditions is very real. (hai.stanford.edu)

Conclusion

The balance sheet for 2025 is therefore contrasted: AI is no longer a distant abstraction; it is anticipated, used, and feared. Some populations adopt it as a driver for the future, others see it as a threat or an unknown.

The great challenge? For it to become a shared tool, with distributed benefits, credible governance, and restored trust. Without this, the gap between technological enthusiasm and social reality risks deepening new inequalities and tensions.