South Middlesex Times

A recent survey by Rutgers University–New Brunswick has highlighted a growing divide in how Americans engage with artificial intelligence (AI). The findings suggest that individuals with higher income and education levels are more inclined to use, trust, and possess knowledge about AI.

The survey is part of the National AI Opinion Monitor (NAIOM) and was conducted from October 25 to November 8. It included nearly 4,800 respondents from various demographic backgrounds, examining their attitudes toward AI systems, companies using them, and AI-generated news content.

According to the survey, 47% of Americans expressed "a fair amount" or "a great deal" of confidence in AI acting in the public interest. This trust level surpasses that for social media at 39% and Congress at 42%. Trust in AI is notably higher among those aged 18 to 24 (60%), individuals earning $100,000 or more annually (62%), and graduate degree holders (60%).

Katherine Ognyanova, an associate professor at Rutgers School of Communication and Information and coauthor of the report, stated: “At this point, the AI divide does not seem insurmountable... Yet, if these tools remain more accessible and trusted among higher-income groups, they could deepen existing economic disparities.”

Ognyanova emphasized that public trust is essential as AI becomes integral to work, education, and public life. The survey also revealed that Americans tend to trust news produced by mainstream journalists more than AI-generated content. While 62% trust journalistic content “some” or “a lot,” only 48% feel the same about information generated by AI.

Vivek Singh, another coauthor of the report and an expert in AI at Rutgers School of Communication and Information noted: “Research suggests a significant amount of online content is AI-generated... Even major news organizations use AI tools...”

To assess knowledge about AI, participants were asked to classify eight statements regarding AI as accurate or inaccurate. They were then categorized into three groups based on their responses: low knowledge (27%), medium knowledge (51%), and high knowledge (23%). A correlation was found between education level, income, and AI literacy.

Ognyanova stressed the importance of integrating AI literacy into school curricula: “We need to integrate AI literacy into school curricula... Right now a third of respondents are familiar with basic AI facts.”

This survey forms part of a long-term project aimed at monitoring public attitudes toward AI. Future surveys will be conducted three times annually with a sample size of 5,000 respondents.