Who Cares About AI—and Who Doesn't?
Who understands it, who doesn’t, and why it matters
A few weeks ago, I was sitting at the table with my family, talking about various current topics, and naturally, AI came up in the conversation.
A moment of silence.
I’m not sure how much our parents—or the parents of many of us—really know about AI. But every time I bring it up, the response is always something like, "Oh yeah, I know ChatGPT," "I’ve heard about that launch," or "That AI sounds familiar."
My next question is usually: "Have you ever used it? Or at least tried it recently?"
While AI has become part of everyday life for many of us, I find it surprising that, for some people, it’s more like just another news headline—something they hear about today and forget by tomorrow. In that sense, it’s clear that AI plays little to no role in their daily routines.
We tend to assume that interest in AI has skyrocketed worldwide, and that’s not wrong. Surveys show that curiosity about AI is widespread, with around 66% of people globally expecting it to significantly impact their lives within the next 3 to 5 years.
In fact, about 54% of respondents worldwide say they’re excited about AI-powered products and services—though a similar percentage admit they also feel a bit uneasy about them.
But what about those who are completely left out of the conversation? Or the ones who show up in the stats but still resist or ignore AI altogether?
The Gaps That Divide Us
There’s often a clear divide between how AI experts and enthusiasts view the technology and how the general public perceives it. AI researchers and tech professionals—those who develop or work closely with AI—tend to have a more nuanced and often optimistic perspective on its potential. They see AI as a powerful tool that, when managed well, can drive innovation, increase productivity, and even help solve social challenges. Many in the tech community emphasize how AI can handle tedious tasks, allowing people to focus on more creative and meaningful work.
Microsoft’s CEO, summarizing findings from a large-scale study, pointed out the “optimistic outlook on AI’s impact on productivity” among businesses.
In fact, many employees now want more AI in the workplace. Surveys show that workers are actively adopting AI on their own—a trend often called "Bring Your Own AI"—to help them do their jobs more efficiently.
This enthusiasm within the industry is further fueled by real-world success stories and data. For example, early AI adopters have seen significant productivity gains, with some programmers doubling their output using AI-powered tools.
Meanwhile, the general public tends to be more cautious, concerned, or even skeptical about AI.
Large-scale surveys in recent years show that public sentiment has shifted toward concern. In the U.S., 52% of adults say they feel more worried than excited about AI’s growing role in daily life, while only 10% say they feel mostly excited about it.
In many countries, people worry that AI could deepen inequality or take away jobs. News coverage often focuses on worst-case scenarios—mass automation, deepfakes, biased algorithms—which can shape public perception.
A Gallup poll found that 40% of Americans believe AI does more harm than good, and a striking 75% think AI will reduce the total number of jobs in the economy over the next decade.
Unlike AI experts, who tend to emphasize how AI can create new roles or enhance workers’ productivity, the general public is more focused on the immediate risk to existing jobs.
A knowledge gap
There’s also a divide in understanding. AI researchers are deeply familiar with the technology’s strengths and limitations, while much of the public sees AI as a mysterious “black box.” This can lead to either exaggerated fears or an underestimation of AI’s benefits.
A growing tension
This disconnect sometimes creates friction. Tech advocates may dismiss public concerns as uninformed, while many people feel that AI enthusiasts are downplaying real issues.
Why Some People Overlook or Are Unaware of AI
In daily life, people use smartphones and websites without realizing that AI is powering many of the features they rely on. For example, 44% of Americans believe they don’t regularly interact with AI, even though they likely do—through search engines, Netflix recommendations, or voice assistants.
This gap in awareness exists because AI often works behind the scenes. If a technology isn’t explicitly marketed as “AI,” people may just see it as ordinary software.
According to Pew Research, only 14% of U.S. adults with a high school education or less have a strong awareness of AI in everyday life, compared to 53% of those with a college degree. Similarly, people with higher incomes—who often have greater access to technology—are much more likely to recognize AI’s presence than those with lower incomes.
This points to a growing “AI literacy gap”—where those with more education or exposure to technology are better at identifying and using AI, while others may lack the knowledge or confidence to engage with it.
UNESCO has warned about an "AI divide," where marginalized communities with less access to technology and digital literacy risk falling behind in the AI-driven world.
On top of that, some people simply don’t see how AI benefits them personally, so they remain indifferent. If a technology doesn’t solve a problem they have, they might just tune it out as another passing trend.
Final Thoughts
The speed of AI adoption often comes down to human attitudes. Some cultures and communities are more tech-forward, quickly embracing new devices and automation, while others are more cautious or prefer gradual change.
Experts note that in the workplace, employee resistance is a major challenge, as people worry about job security or feel overwhelmed by learning new systems.
However, when leaders clearly communicate that AI is meant to enhance rather than replace human work, adoption tends to happen more smoothly.
Understanding why some people embrace AI while others ignore or resist it is essential for shaping policy and innovation. Research suggests that with inclusive education, transparent governance, and a focus on real human needs, AI adoption can become more widespread and more positively received.
In the end, AI’s success won’t just be defined by advances in algorithms—it will depend on how much trust and acceptance it earns from the diverse global communities it’s meant to serve.