AI Optimism Is Widespread Worldwide Despite Uneven Adoption

Summary

Gallup’s ongoing research with Microsoft surveyed nationally representative samples of adults aged 15 and older in 37 countries and territories from April through July 2026, with about 1,000 respondents per country. The study found that awareness of AI is widespread but actual use is much less common: the median awareness rate was 81%, compared with 43% who had ever used AI and 57% who had never used it. Adoption varied sharply, from 96% awareness, 79% lifetime use and 46% daily use in Singapore to 12%, 3% and 1%, respectively, in Malawi. Public expectations were generally positive. Optimists outnumbered pessimists about AI’s effect on people in 32 countries and about its effect on the country in 29, although only 18 countries had an absolute majority expecting national benefits. China recorded the highest national optimism at 93%, while the United States was among the least optimistic at 36%. Trust in AI accuracy was more limited: the median share expressing a lot or complete trust was 36%, and only four countries reached a majority. In 35 of 37 countries, optimism about AI was more common than trust in its information. Positive emotions outweighed negative ones in 34 countries, with curiosity the leading positive response and worry the most common negative one. Wealthy Western countries combined relatively high daily use with high concern; in the United States, 68% of daily users reported worry, compared with 80% of less frequent users. Daily users also tended to trust AI more, but the survey cannot determine whether use builds trust or trust drives use. Sampling error ranged from plus or minus 2.2 to 4.9 percentage points.