{
  "id": 11350231,
  "title": "How wealth shapes our view of artificial intelligence",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/how-wealth-shapes-our-view-of-artificial-intelligence",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-02T02:22:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu - Sci-Tech",
    "slug": "the-hindu-sci-tech",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/how-wealth-shapes-our-view-of-artificial-intelligence/article71494766.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A new Pew Research Centre survey of 42,000 adults across 37 countries reveals that wealth significantly influences people's perceptions of artificial intelligence (AI). The wealthier a country, the more its citizens fear AI will lead to job losses, widen inequality, and disrupt daily life. In contrast, poorer nations exhibit less concern, simply because many citizens haven't formed an opinion about AI yet. Per capita income emerges as the most reliable predictor of how a population feels about AI.\n\nWhen split into 18 high-income and 18 middle-income nations, the survey shows a substantial divide in AI-related apprehensions. High-income countries report that 55% of adults believe AI will result in fewer jobs in the coming decades, compared to 36% in middle-income countries. Furthermore, 35% of high-income adults think AI will exacerbate income inequality, while only 22% of middle-income adults share this concern.\n\nThe correlation between GDP per capita and the belief that AI will cost jobs is strong. Countries with higher GDP per capita, such as Singapore and Australia, have high AI awareness rates. In contrast, nations with lower GDP per capita, like Bangladesh and the Philippines, show much lower awareness levels. In the US, the share of adults under 35 who are concerned about AI has risen from 40% to 55% in the past 18-24 months, highlighting the digital immersion and growing unease among younger generations in wealthy countries.\n\nFor citizens and governments, this survey underscores the importance of addressing AI-related concerns. Countries experiencing the most anxiety may be best positioned to regulate AI's disruptions. Meanwhile, middle-income economies' lack of alarm could be attributed to a lack of awareness rather than resilience.",
  "summary": "Per capita income, it turns out, may be the single best predictors of how a population feels about AI",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}