In a revealing survey conducted by Edelman, the stark disparity in trust toward artificial intelligence (AI) between populations in China and the United States has come to light. While a remarkable 87 percent of Chinese respondents expressed confidence in AI technologies, only 32 percent of Americans shared this sentiment. The poll, released on November 19, 2025, underscores a notable divide in perceptions surrounding this transformative technology across different cultures.
The survey highlighted that over 70 percent of participants in China believe AI has the potential to address various societal challenges, including climate change, mental health issues, poverty, and societal polarization. In contrast, only one-third of Americans felt similarly optimistic about AI’s capacity to alleviate poverty and division, although half anticipated its positive impact on climate-related issues.
Furthermore, the eagerness to embrace AI use was significantly higher in China, with 54 percent of respondents in favor, compared to just 17 percent in the United States. This enthusiasm was particularly pronounced among the youth, as approximately 88 percent of Chinese individuals aged 18 to 34 indicated trust in AI, juxtaposed against 40 percent of their American counterparts.
Edelman’s Senior Vice President Gray Grossman noted that this divergence presents a dual challenge for businesses and policymakers. In high-trust markets like China, the focus will be on maintaining optimism through responsible technology deployment and clear evidence of its benefits. Meanwhile, in low-trust markets such as the U.S., the priority is to rebuild confidence in the institutions that underpin these technologies.
The survey results emerge amidst an escalating competition between the U.S. and China in the realm of technological advancement, particularly in AI. While American companies are often viewed as leaders in crafting powerful AI systems, Chinese firms, including Alibaba and DeepSeek, have made significant strides in developing cost-effective “open” language models. Recently, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky garnered attention for his preference for Alibaba’s Qwen over OpenAI’s ChatGPT, citing its effectiveness, speed, and affordability.
Such developments suggest that as both nations continue to push the boundaries of AI, the global landscape may soon reflect a more nuanced view that incorporates varying levels of public trust and optimism.
#TechnologyNews #WorldNews