Pew Research: Public and AI Experts

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Pew Research Center·pewresearch.org/internet/2025/04/03/how-the-us-public-and...

Credibility Rating

4/5

High(4)

High quality. Established institution or organization with editorial oversight and accountability.

Rating inherited from publication venue: Pew Research Center

Useful empirical baseline for understanding public and expert sentiment on AI governance and safety; relevant for researchers studying societal readiness, policy legitimacy, and communication gaps between AI practitioners and the broader public.

Metadata

Importance: 52/100organizational reportdataset

Summary

A Pew Research Center study comparing attitudes of U.S. adults and AI experts toward artificial intelligence, covering optimism about AI's future, concerns about job displacement, and views on regulation. The study reveals notable divergences between expert and public perspectives on AI risks and benefits.

Key Points

•AI experts tend to be more optimistic about AI's long-term benefits than the general U.S. public.
•Both groups express concern about AI's impact on employment, though emphasis and framing differ between experts and the public.
•Regulatory concerns are prominent for both groups, with debates around oversight, accountability, and government intervention.
•The study highlights a knowledge and perception gap between those working in AI and everyday Americans.
•Public trust in AI developers and institutions remains a key variable shaping attitudes toward AI deployment.

Review

The Pew Research report provides a nuanced exploration of how the American public and AI experts perceive artificial intelligence, uncovering substantial gaps in their expectations and attitudes. While AI experts are significantly more optimistic about AI's potential - with 56% believing it will have a positive impact compared to only 17% of the public - both groups share common concerns about regulation and personal control of the technology. The study reveals critical insights into perceptions of AI across various domains, including job markets, societal impacts, and potential risks. Notably, gender differences emerge prominently, with male experts and members of the public displaying more enthusiasm about AI compared to women. The research also highlights shared skepticism about government and corporate ability to responsibly develop and regulate AI, with approximately 55-62% of both groups expressing low confidence in current oversight mechanisms.

Cited by 3 pages

Page	Type	Quality
AI Risk Critical Uncertainties Model	Crux	71.0
Trust Erosion Dynamics Model	Analysis	59.0
AI Risk Public Education	Approach	51.0

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How the US Public and AI Experts View Artificial Intelligence | Pew Research Center 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
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 April 3, 2025 
 
 
 

 How the U.S. Public and AI Experts View Artificial Intelligence

 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

 
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 By Colleen McClain , Brian Kennedy , Jeffrey Gottfried , Monica Anderson and Giancarlo Pasquini 

 
 Table of Contents 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 How the U.S. Public and AI Experts View Artificial Intelligence 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 1. Artificial intelligence in daily life: Views and experiences 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 2. Views of risks, opportunities and regulation of AI 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 3. Public and expert predictions for AI’s next 20 years 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 Acknowledgments 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 Methodology 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 Appendix A: Demographic makeup of AI experts surveyed 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 Appendix B: Selected tables by expert and public demographics 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 

 How we did this 
 Pew Research Center conducted this study to understand how Americans’ views of artificial intelligence compare with the views of those who have expertise in the field. This report includes findings from a survey of U.S. adults, a survey of AI experts and a series of in-depth interviews with experts.

 Survey of U.S. adults

 To understand the views of the American public, we surveyed 5,410 adults from Aug. 12 to Aug. 18, 2024. Everyone who took part in this survey is a member of the Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP), a group of people recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses who have agreed to take surveys regularly. This kind of recruitment gives nearly all U.S. adults a chance of selection. Interviews were conducted either online or by telephone with a live interviewer. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other factors. Read more about the ATP’s methodology .

 Survey of AI experts

 To understand the views of AI experts, we surveyed 1,013 AI experts living in the United States from Aug. 14 to Oct. 31, 2024. To create the sample, Center researchers compiled a list of authors and presenters at 21 AI-related conferences held in 2023 or 2024. Surveys were conducted online, and experts were asked to confirm that they live in the U.S. and that their work or research relates to AI before proceeding. Because there is no definitiv

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