R0029/2026-03-27/Q002/H1¶
Statement¶
Public sentiment is predominantly negative — surveys show majority distrust or negative attitudes toward AI-generated content.
Status¶
Current: Partially supported
Global data shows that more people distrust AI than trust it (54% unwilling to trust vs. 46% willing, KPMG 2025). In advanced economies specifically, distrust is even stronger (61% unwilling). However, this varies dramatically by region, and 83% see potential benefits, making "predominantly negative" an oversimplification.
Supporting Evidence¶
| Evidence | Summary |
|---|---|
| SRC01-E01 | Only 46% globally willing to trust AI; 54% unwilling |
| SRC02-E01 | Only 39% in US and 36% in Netherlands see AI as more beneficial than harmful |
Contradicting Evidence¶
| Evidence | Summary |
|---|---|
| SRC01-E01 | 83% believe AI will deliver wide-ranging benefits; 66% use AI regularly |
| SRC03-E01 | 55% globally see AI as more beneficial than harmful (up from 52% in 2022); China at 83% positive |
Reasoning¶
H1 captures an important truth — trust deficits are real, especially in advanced Western economies. But the hypothesis is too monolithic. The same KPMG survey that shows 54% distrust also shows 83% see benefits and 66% regular use. People can simultaneously distrust AI and use it, which makes "predominantly negative" an incomplete characterization.
Relationship to Other Hypotheses¶
H1 is accurate for advanced economies (US, Europe, Canada) but not globally. H3 better captures the full picture by acknowledging regional and contextual variation.