Global Gallup Poll Finds Broad AI Optimism Despite Modest Adoption and Accuracy Concerns

Public sentiment surrounding artificial intelligence remains predominantly optimistic across the globe, even though a majority of international respondents report they have never directly used the technology, according to research from a Gallup-Microsoft AI survey reported by Mashable Tech (https://mashable.com/tech/gallup-poll-reveals-widespread-global-ai-optimism). The findings reflect data from the first 37 countries to complete fieldwork in a study that will eventually cover 140 nations.

In 34 of the initial 37 countries surveyed, positive feelings toward artificial intelligence outnumbered negative ones, with the United States, Egypt, and Palestine serving as the sole exceptions. Across all 37 nations, 72 percent of AI-aware adults reported at least one positive emotion regarding the technology, compared with 41 percent who cited at least one negative emotion. Curiosity was the most prevalent reaction, selected by a median of 64 percent of respondents, while worry was the primary negative sentiment at a median of 32 percent.

Views regarding broader societal impact leaned positive as well. In 29 countries, more respondents said artificial intelligence would mostly help their nation than harm it. Public perception varied widely between major economies: 93 percent of Chinese participants stated AI will help their country, whereas the United States ranked near the bottom at 36 percent, just above Egypt and Bangladesh.

The survey noted that optimism does not always track with direct adoption. In Nigeria, 68 percent of AI-aware adults expect AI to help their nation, despite only 20 percent having used the tools. By contrast, adoption in the United States is broader; a separate Pew Research Center survey from September 2025 cited in the findings showed that 62 percent of Americans interact with AI several times a week, including 31 percent who do so daily or almost constantly.

Public confidence in AI accuracy remains limited globally. A median of 36 percent of respondents across the 37 countries said they trust AI completely or a lot to supply accurate information, with majorities expressing that level of trust in only four nations: China, Israel, Nigeria, and Vietnam. Gallup observed that trust tends to rise with usage—in the U.S., 45 percent of daily users trust AI accuracy versus 8 percent of non-users—though researchers cautioned the survey cannot determine whether trust drives adoption or vice versa.

Wealthy Western nations exhibited the highest levels of concern. Gallup found that 74 percent of AI-aware Americans reported feeling worried about AI—the highest proportion of any country surveyed—followed by the Netherlands and Canada. Within those countries, however, daily users were generally less worried than infrequent users or non-users.