English-Speaking Nations Show Heightened Anxiety Over AI’s Rise, While Trust in Regulation Varies Globally
In a world where intelligent automation and industrial automation are reshaping economies, a new global poll reveals a striking divide: English-speaking countries like the UK, US, Australia, and Canada exhibit greater nervousness about artificial intelligence (AI) than their EU counterparts, where excitement about AI’s potential often outweighs apprehension. The survey, conducted by Ipsos Mori across 30 countries, highlights how attitudes toward AI correlate with trust in governments to regulate this transformative technology—especially as automation equipment and AI-driven systems increasingly permeate workplaces and daily life.
A Transatlantic Trust Gap in AI Regulation
Britons lead the world in AI anxiety, with two-thirds of respondents in Great Britain expressing nervousness about AI in products and services, and less than half trusting the UK government to regulate it responsibly. This skepticism contrasts sharply with nations like France, Germany, and Italy, where fewer than half share such concerns. The divide is even more pronounced in the US, where trust in government regulation of AI is among the lowest globally—a reality influenced by political ties to Silicon Valley and debates over state vs. federal oversight of intelligent automation tools.
By contrast, the EU’s adoption of the AI Act in June 2023—banning high-risk uses like social scoring and mandating transparency in AI-generated content—has fostered greater confidence in regulatory frameworks. “In Europe, there’s a stronger belief that policy can balance innovation with safeguards,” notes Matt Carmichael of Ipsos Mori. “In the Anglosphere, skepticism reflects both privacy concerns and a sense that AI is outpacing ethical guardrails, much like early stages of industrial automation lacked worker protections.”
Economic Fears and Cultural Nuances
Anxiety in English-speaking countries often centers on job security, with nearly a third of Britons fearing AI will entirely replace their roles—a sentiment echoed in the US and Australia. Globally, just 31% believe AI will improve job markets, though Thailand (75% fearing job loss) and Sweden (14%) represent extreme poles. These attitudes mirror historical reactions to automation equipment in manufacturing, where fears of displacement initially clashed with promises of efficiency.
Cultural factors also play a role. In India, deepfake misuse during elections has fueled distrust, while Southeast Asian nations like Indonesia and Malaysia—where urban, tech-savvy populations dominate polling—show higher excitement about AI, aligning with their rapid adoption of automation equipment in emerging industries.
Public Resistance vs. Inevitable Adoption
Despite widespread unease, the poll reveals a paradox: while most oppose AI-generated news, films, and ads, they anticipate these will become the norm. This tension mirrors debates over intelligent automation in creative fields, where artists like Kate Bush and John Grisham are suing over copyright violations by AI models. “It’s a classic clash between technological inevitability and human attachment to human-created work,” Carmichael observes. “Just as industrial automation transformed artisanal production, AI is forcing society to renegotiate what ‘creativity’ and ‘labor’ mean.”
Conclusion: Navigating AI’s Promise and Peril in an Unequal World
The survey underscores that attitudes toward AI are deeply shaped by local contexts—from regulatory trust to economic vulnerability. English-speaking nations, often at the forefront of AI innovation, grapple with its unregulated pace, while others look to policy to mitigate risks. As intelligent automation and automation equipment continue to reshape industries, the challenge lies in fostering innovation while addressing legitimate fears about job security, privacy, and cultural erosion.
In the words of Carmichael: “AI’s trajectory isn’t just technical—it’s deeply human. Whether we view it as a threat or opportunity hinges on whether societies can build guardrails that reflect their values. History shows that industrial automation eventually found balance with labor rights; AI demands the same ethical reckoning for the digital age.”
