Trust in AI Far Higher in China Than in the West, Poll Shows

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hina’s public exhibits far stronger trust in artificial intelligence than people in the United States and other Western nations, according to a global survey released on Tuesday by Edelman. The findings highlight stark differences in public perception of AI and suggest that trust — not technology alone — may determine the pace and scope of adoption worldwide.

The Edelman Trust Barometer Flash Poll found that 87 percent of Chinese respondents expressed confidence in AI, compared with 67 percent in Brazil, 36 percent in the United Kingdom, 39 percent in Germany, and just 32 percent in the United States. The survey also revealed that young adults are especially trusting of the technology, with 88 percent of Chinese aged 18–34 reporting faith in AI, compared with 40 percent of their American peers.

More than seven in ten Chinese respondents said they expected AI to help address societal challenges, including climate change, mental health, poverty, and political polarization. In contrast, fewer than a third of Americans believed AI could reduce poverty or social divisions, though about half anticipated a positive impact on climate-related issues.

Welcoming greater use of AI in personal life

The survey also explored willingness to embrace AI personally. 54 percent of Chinese respondents welcomed greater use of AI in daily life, while just 17 percent of Americans shared the same view. Edelman Senior Vice President Gary Grossman described the results as “a double challenge for businesses and policymakers.” He explained, “In high-trust markets, the task is to sustain optimism through responsible deployment and straightforward evidence of benefit. In low-trust markets, the task is to rebuild confidence in the institutions behind the technology.”

The findings come amid intensifying tech competition between the US and China. While the US continues to lead in developing the most powerful AI models, Chinese firms such as Alibaba and DeepSeek have recently introduced “open” language models offering faster and cheaper services for customers. The commercial implications of this are already visible. Last month, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky revealed that the platform preferred Alibaba’s Qwen AI model over OpenAI’s ChatGPT, citing both cost efficiency and performance.

Experts say the poll underscores the importance of trust and experience in driving AI adoption. Research accompanying the survey suggests that personal interaction with AI, including practical applications at work or school, significantly increases confidence in the technology. Distrust, in contrast, often arises from perception rather than experience: only a minority of respondents across all markets reported having negative personal encounters with AI.

Broader geopolitical implications

The divergence in trust also has broader geopolitical implications. In China, high levels of public confidence are likely to accelerate domestic adoption and reinforce the country’s push to establish leadership in AI development. In Western nations, persistent skepticism may slow deployment and create political pressure on regulators and companies to prioritize safety, ethics, and transparency over speed of innovation.

The survey paints a nuanced picture of global attitudes toward AI. While optimism is strong in China and Brazil, Western countries face the dual challenge of rebuilding trust and demonstrating the tangible benefits of AI technologies. For businesses operating internationally, the findings highlight the need for tailored strategies: sustaining public confidence in high-trust markets while actively engaging and educating populations in low-trust environments.

Ultimately, the Edelman poll emphasizes that AI adoption is not solely a matter of technological capability. Across countries, trust — cultivated through meaningful experience, transparency, and responsible deployment — remains the key determinant of whether societies embrace or resist AI.

(Source: Edelman and Aljazeera)