According to Andrew Ng (@AndrewYNg), citing separate reports from Edelman and Pew Research, a significant portion of the U.S. and broader Western populations remain distrustful and unenthusiastic about AI adoption. Edelman’s survey found that 49% of Americans reject AI use while only 17% embrace it, contrasting sharply with China, where just 10% reject and 54% embrace AI. Pew’s data reinforces this trend, showing greater AI enthusiasm in many countries outside the U.S. This widespread skepticism poses concrete challenges for AI business growth: slow consumer adoption, local resistance to AI infrastructure projects (such as Google’s failed Indiana data center), and heightened risk of restrictive legislation fueled by public distrust. The main barrier cited by U.S. respondents for not using AI is lack of trust (70%), outweighing access or motivation concerns. Ng stresses that the AI industry must focus on transparent communication, responsible development, and broad-based benefits—including upskilling and practical applications—to rebuild trust and unlock market opportunities. Excessive hype and sensationalism, especially from within the AI community and media, have fueled public fears and must be addressed to prevent further erosion of trust. (Sources: Edelman, Pew Research, Andrew Ng via deeplearning.ai, Twitter)