Gallup's 37-country survey finds AI optimism far outweighs worry
Global sentiment on AI is optimistic while actual use lags; China is most positive at 93%, the US at 36%.
Original event 2026-09-22
A Gallup survey of adults in 37 countries finds positive feelings about AI outweigh negative ones in 34 of them. In China, 93% of AI-aware respondents say AI will mostly help their country; in the United States, only 36% do.
The survey is part of a Gallup research program run with Microsoft that will eventually cover 140 countries. Across the 37 countries surveyed, a median 57% of adults have never used AI, while median awareness stands at 81% — optimism runs well ahead of actual use.
Optimism also does not track adoption: in Vietnam, 91% expect AI to help their country, but only 43% have ever used it. Sentiment is not adoption, and the full 140-country results will be worth comparing.