Report: “Survey Highlights an Emerging Divide Over Artificial Intelligence in the U.S.”

From Rutgers University:

Results from a new Rutgers University–New Brunswick survey tracking public trust in artificial intelligence (AI) suggest a growing divide in how Americans engage with the technology.

People with higher income and education levels are more likely to use and trust AI and have greater knowledge about the technology.

The survey, part of the National AI Opinion Monitor (NAIOM), was conducted between Oct. 25 and Nov. 8 and gathered insights from nearly 4,800 respondents across demographic groups, socioeconomic status and geographic location. It examined public attitudes toward AI, including trust in AI systems, the companies using them and AI-generated news content.

When asked about their trust in AI to act in the public interest, 47% of Americans reported having “a fair amount” or “a great deal” of confidence in the technology. This level of trust was higher than that for social media (39%) or Congress (42%)

Trust in AI was highest among individuals ages 18 to 24 (60%), those earning $100,000 or more a year (62%) and graduate degree holders (60%).

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As AI continues to shape daily life, Ognyanova emphasized the need for education to help people make informed decisions about the technology.

To measure AI knowledge, respondents were presented with eight statements about AI and asked to classify each as “accurate,” “inaccurate” or “not sure.” Three statements were correct; the rest were false. Participants were then scored based on the number of correct responses.

Respondents were categorized into three knowledge groups:

• Low knowledge (0-2 correct answers) – 27% of respondents
• Medium knowledge (3-4 correct answers) – 51% of respondents
• High knowledge (5-8 correct answers) – 23% of respondents

The survey revealed a correlation between education, income and AI literacy. Among graduate degree holders, 29% demonstrated high AI knowledge, compared with 20% of those without a college degree. Twenty-seven percent of respondents earning more than $100,000 were classified as highly knowledgeable about AI, compared with 19% of those earning less than $25,000.

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See Also: New AI Index Study Published by the University of South Carolina College of Information and Communications (Jan. 9, 2025)

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