The Stanford report highlights the growing disconnect between AI insiders and everyone else
According to Stanford University’s annual AI industry report released this past Monday, the perspectives of AI experts and the general public are drifting further apart. The study specifically highlights a rise in public apprehension regarding AI, particularly in the United States, where there is significant concern about the potential disruptions to the workforce, healthcare systems, and the broader economy.
These findings align with recent data from a Gallup poll, which identifies a rise in negative sentiment toward artificial intelligence, particularly among Generation Z. Despite the fact that nearly half of this demographic utilizes AI tools on a daily or weekly basis, the study highlights a shift in attitude, with young users reporting declining optimism and increasing levels of frustration regarding the technology.
The current backlash against AI has caught many in the tech industry off guard. While industry leaders have primarily concentrated on mitigating the risks associated with Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)—a theoretical state where AI achieves independent, human-level cognition—the general public is focused on more immediate, practical realities. Most people are primarily concerned about how AI will influence their job security and whether the construction of energy-intensive data centers will lead to rising utility costs.
This widening chasm is most evident in the public reaction to the recent attack on OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s residence. On platforms like X, AI industry figures expressed bewilderment at a wave of Instagram comments that appeared to applaud the incident. This sentiment mirrors the discourse observed following the 2024 shooting of the United Healthcare CEO and the arson of a Kimberly-Clark warehouse by an employee citing wage grievances—events where online rhetoric has increasingly leaned toward radical, revolutionary calls for action against corporate leadership.
The Stanford report provides further insight into where all this negativity is coming from, as it summarizes public opinion data on AI from a variety of sources.
For example, it cites a Pew Research report released last month that found that only 10% of Americans said they were more excited than concerned about the increased use of AI in their daily lives. On the other hand, 56% of AI experts said they believe AI will have a positive impact on the United States over the next 20 years.
The divergence between expert opinion and public sentiment is particularly stark in specific domains of societal impact. According to the report, 84% of AI experts anticipate that the technology will positively influence medical care over the next two decades, whereas only 44% of the U.S. general public shares this optimistic outlook.
This optimism gap extends to professional and economic perspectives. While 73% of experts view the impact of AI in the workplace positively, only 23% of the general public agree. Similarly, 69% of experts expect a positive economic impact, compared to just 21% of the general public—a difference likely driven by ongoing layoffs and job instability, which many are now associating with AI adoption.
Citing Pew Research, the report highlights a sharp contrast in professional outlooks: while AI experts maintain a more optimistic view of the labor market, nearly two-thirds of Americans (64%) believe that the rise of AI will result in fewer available jobs over the next 20 years.
According to data from the Stanford report, which cites Ipsos polling, there is a significant disparity in global confidence regarding AI governance. The United States reported the lowest level of trust in its government’s ability to regulate AI responsibly, at just 31%. Conversely, Singapore led the surveyed nations with an 81% trust rating.
According to data within the report, public sentiment toward AI regulation is skewed: nationwide, 41% of respondents expressed concern that federal oversight would be insufficient, while only 27% felt that regulation would be overly restrictive.
Despite these widespread fears and concerns, AI has received a measure of growing validation: globally, the percentage of respondents who believe that the benefits of AI products and services outweigh the drawbacks saw a slight increase, rising from 55% in 2024 to 59% in 2025.
However, this slight increase in optimism is tempered by rising unease. According to data cited by the report’s authors, the percentage of respondents who report feeling “nervous” about AI increased from 50% to 52% during that same period.
