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Despite American AI skepticism, IDC research found that most US government leaders believe that by 2030, the public sector will consist of humans and AI agents working together. In fact, over 80% of US government agencies already use AI agents. So why are more than half of US workers AI skeptics and yet our government is arguably leading most industries with respect to AI adoption? The skepticism of American workers extends beyond the fear of job losses.

According to similar research conducted by Stanford, AI optimism is rising, but so is anxiety. The research found that countries in South Asia, such as Thailand and Singapore, have much higher optimism about the overall benefits of AI. Salesforce research found that countries like India show trust and consistent AI use above 80%, compared to the U.S., where trust and usage are near 50% for both. India ranks third in the world for startup unicorns (131) compared to the US, which ranks first.

Why do advanced economies like the US, UK, and France have higher levels of AI skepticism as compared to emerging economies? Global studies show that the vast majority (90%) of people in emerging economies expect benefits from AI and view generative and agentic AI as a way for them to advance their careers.