U.S. Adults and Workers Express Growing Anxiety Over AI

Public skepticism toward artificial intelligence is rising, with a Pew Research Center survey finding that 52% of U.S. adults are now more concerned than excited about AI's role in daily life. This marks a significant increase from 37% in 2021, with 71% of Americans believing the technology will reduce the number of available jobs over the next two decades. Young adults are particularly skeptical, citing concerns that AI could stifle creativity and human connection.

In the professional sphere, the Acceleration Community of Companies identified a Confidence Paradox where workers feel more productive but fear the erosion of fundamental skills like writing and memory. Their report found that 74% of employees fear becoming too dependent on AI more than they fear falling behind in its adoption. This has led to workplace guilt, with 30% of respondents viewing AI use as cheating.

Industry leaders are calling for clearer corporate frameworks to manage this transition. Kevin Fitzgerald of Employment Hero argued that without guidance, workers will continue to use AI in the shadows. Meanwhile, OpenAI has attempted to address safety concerns for younger users by launching ChatGPT for Teens. Developed with Stanford University, the portal includes parental controls and safeguards against self-harm and explicit content following a lawsuit alleging a chatbot contributed to a teenager's suicide.