Most people around the world remain skeptical that generative AI will make their lives or society as a whole better, according to new research from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism and Oxford University.
The 2025 Digital News Report finds that optimism about AI’s impact on society remains limited, with more Americans now believing it will make things worse than better.
The report asked respondents across six countries whether they believe generative AI will make their personal lives or society better or worse.
Roughly half say it will make no difference or are unsure about its personal benefits (48%), while 19% say generative AI will make life worse. About 33% say the technology made their life better.
Zooming out, 36% of respondents say they are either unsure or neutral on the impact of generative AI on society, and 33% say artificial intelligence is making it worse. Only 32% say generative AI benefits society.
“When it comes to the impact of generative AI on society, there is much more pessimism. In three of the six countries there are significantly more pessimists than optimists – including the USA, where many of the technologies involved have been developed and many of the companies pushing them are based.
Compared to last year, there has been a significant swing in US public opinion in a more negative direction – the percentage who expect generative AI to make society better has declined by 6 percentage points, and the share who expects it to make it worse has increased by 7 percentage points.”
The Reuters Institute says its conclusions are based on representative surveys conducted in partnership with YouGov across six countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Argentina, and Japan. More than 12,000 respondents were asked questions about awareness, comfort levels, and perceived effects of AI on news, work, and daily life.
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