Why People Are Cooler About A.I. Than Tech Leaders Expect

Public reactions to artificial intelligence have been markedly cooler than many tech leaders expected, and the gap between expert optimism and popular concern is wide. In surveys of U.S. adults and AI specialists, a majority of experts reported positive expectations while only a modest share of the public said they were mainly excited; women and other groups tended to register more worry. Many people also express low trust in corporations to manage AI fairly and say they want stronger controls.

Investment flows into AI have remained large even as investors have grown choosier. Global venture funding hit about $101.05 billion in the second quarter of 2025, yet overall deal volume fell to roughly 7,356 transactions as capital concentrated in very large raises; earlier quarters included outlier rounds that skewed totals. Because funding is focused on megadeals and resilient sectors, smaller startups sometimes struggle to gain traction despite strong interest in the technology.

At work, uptake of AI tools has accelerated—reported use has nearly doubled over two years—but measured productivity gains have been limited for most firms. Large executive surveys find that a majority of companies report little or no effect on employment or output so far, even where tools are in use. This pattern echoes historical technology transitions in which benefits often appear unevenly and only after firms change processes and skills.

If public enthusiasm remains muted while leaders push ahead, the result may be slower cultural acceptance and more debate about how to shape AI’s effects on jobs and fairness. Those debates are already influencing conversations in workplaces and politics.