76% in Australia and South Korea fear AI will destroy jobs

Anxiety about artificial intelligence is no longer a niche concern for tech insiders. A massive new survey from Pew Research, covering 42,151 respondents across 37 countries, reveals that the global public largely views AI as an economic threat rather than a boon. The data, collected between February and May, shows that in 34 of the surveyed nations, people believe AI will cause more job losses than gains over the next two decades. This isn’t just vague unease. In wealthy economies like Australia and South Korea, 76 percent of respondents expect net job destruction. The United States follows closely at 71 percent. These figures align with recent industry warnings, such as Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei’s prediction that half of entry-level white-collar roles could vanish, but the public’s fear predates those specific headlines.

The demographic split offers a surprising twist. You might expect younger generations, who are digital natives, to embrace the technology uncritically. Instead, adults aged 18–34 report increasingly mixed feelings and rising anxiety. In countries like Sweden, Japan, and Brazil, concern among this group has spiked sharply over the last year. They are now as worried about job displacement and widening inequality as older generations in the US and Sweden. This shift suggests that early optimism is curdling into realism as the practical implications of automation hit home. Older respondents remain consistently concerned about AI’s impact on daily life, but the surge in youth apprehension signals a broader cultural turning point.

Economic inequality remains a central flashpoint. Respondents generally agree that AI will widen the gap between rich and poor, a sentiment particularly strong among left-leaning individuals in wealthier nations. Yet, the mood isn’t purely apocalyptic. A global median of 41 percent say they feel both concerned and excited about AI’s growing presence. Only 13 percent are primarily excited, while 37 percent are primarily concerned. This ambivalence defines the current moment. People see the potential for efficiency but dread the social cost. As AI tools integrate deeper into workflows, this tension between hope and fear will likely dictate policy debates and consumer adoption rates for years to come.