Pew Research has published a global survey investigating how people view the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs, life, and income inequality. The study surveyed 42,151 people across 37 countries between February 8th and May 13th.
Majority view AI as a threat to employment, according to global Pew survey
The findings show that a majority of respondents see AI as a threat to human employment. In 34 of the 37 countries surveyed, more people believe AI will lead to job losses over the next 20 years rather than creating new opportunities. Concerns are particularly high in wealthier nations, with 76 percent of respondents in Australia and South Korea, and 71 percent in the United States, expressing such views.
Respondents are also more likely to say that AI will increase the gap between the rich and the poor. The survey also noted that age influences viewpoints; older individuals are more concerned about AI's impact on daily life, while younger adults (ages 18–34) increasingly report rising anxiety regarding AI-driven job loss and inequality.
Despite these economic fears, public sentiment is not entirely negative. The global median shows that 41 percent of respondents feel equally concerned and excited about the growing presence of AI in daily life, while 37 percent are primarily concerned and 13 percent are primarily excited.
Sources
- AI is feared globally as the destroyer of jobs （The Verge AI, 2026-09-17）