Stanford's 2026 AI Index report reveals a widening gap between AI experts and the general public on the technology's societal impact. While 56% of AI experts believe AI will positively impact the U.S. over the next 20 years, only 10% of Americans say they are more excited than concerned. The divergence is especially stark around jobs (73% of experts positive vs. 23% of the public), medical care (84% vs. 44%), and the economy (69% vs. 21%). U.S. trust in government to regulate AI responsibly sits at just 31%, the lowest among surveyed nations. Growing anxiety, particularly among Gen Z, is fueling a broader backlash, even as global perception of AI's net benefits slightly improved from 55% to 59% between 2024 and 2025.
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