AI's potential excites executives and investors, but general public remains skeptical, survey says

A recent survey conducted by Just Capital reveals a stark contrast between the optimistic views of corporate leaders and investors regarding artificial intelligence and the skepticism held by the general public. The report, published on Tuesday, highlights how these differing perspectives reflect a complex landscape of beliefs about AI's impact on society. Between September 27 and November 14, Just Capital gathered insights from a diverse group of stakeholders, including institutional investors, corporate executives, and U.S. adults. The findings are striking: approximately 93% of corporate leaders and 80% of investors expressed confidence that AI will yield a net positive effect on society over the next five years. In contrast, only 58% of the public echoed this sentiment. This survey arrives three years after the launch of ChatGPT by OpenAI, an event that ignited widespread investment in AI technologies. As some analysts predict that AI expenditures could soar into the trillions by the decade's end, excitement about technological advancement is palpable. However, concerns about privacy, safety, and job security loom large over the prospects of AI implementation. The divide becomes particularly pronounced when examining perceptions of AI's role in the workplace. While 94% of investors and 98% of corporate leaders believe AI will enhance worker productivity, only 47% of the general public shares this view. Alarmingly, nearly half of the public anticipates that AI will lead to job displacement, a belief only 20% of corporate executives agree with. Just Capital underscores the public's anxiety regarding the implications of AI adoption, specifically the potential for job cuts. All groups surveyed voiced concerns about safety and security risks associated with AI, yet corporate leaders and investors expressed heightened worries about disinformation and the technology's malicious use. Moreover, the report found that over 40% of corporate executives do not consider environmental factors in their AI strategies. A significant portion of stakeholders believes that companies should allocate more resources toward safety in AI investment, with around 60% of investors and half of the public advocating for over 5% of total AI spending to focus on safety measures. In contrast, 59% of corporate leaders suggested that companies should limit safety spending to 5% or less. Just Capital plans to monitor these sentiments regarding AI deployment on a quarterly basis, aiming to provide ongoing insights into this evolving dialogue.