Research Reveals Widespread Awareness of AI Among Americans, Yet Trust Remains Limited

Krista Software’s recent survey indicates that despite increasing familiarity with AI, Americans remain hesitant to rely on it for crucial decision-making

Krista Software, a pioneer in AI integration technology, has unveiled the results of its 2023 AI Trust Survey. The nationwide survey demonstrates that while most Americans are now aware of artificial intelligence (AI), their understanding of how it works varies greatly depending on factors such as age and job position. Furthermore, despite being open to AI handling specific tasks, respondents displayed strong reluctance to trust AI with decisions that could significantly impact their lives.

Considering the surge in AI-related news coverage and Krista Software’s commitment to providing an innovative AI integration platform (AI iPaaS), the company surveyed 1,000 adults from across the United States to gauge their current knowledge, sentiments, and trust in AI for performing tasks and making critical decisions.

Highlights from the survey include:

• Growing awareness and understanding of AI in America: 58% of respondents acknowledged AI’s existence, with Gen Z (61%) and Millennials (56%) feeling more confident in their understanding compared to a mere 24% of older generations.
• AI’s perceived impact on jobs: 54% of Americans believe AI will affect their jobs, with management professionals anticipating positive outcomes, while rank-and-file workers remain less optimistic.
• Human decision-making still favored over AI: In life-or-death situations, 67% of respondents would not trust AI to make critical decisions. Even among those who generally support the use of AI for certain tasks, there’s a noticeable resistance when it comes to situations where the outcomes could directly or indirectly affect them personally — 75% would rather a human choose their work attire, not AI.
• General ambivalence towards AI: Although most respondents are aware of AI’s growing integration into everyday tools and platforms, the largest group (36%) described their overall attitude towards AI as “Neutral,” with 32% indicating a “Slightly Positive” stance.

“The survey results emphasize the importance of public awareness and transparency in how AI functions to build trust among people whose lives, jobs, and freedoms may be impacted by AI adoption,” said John Michelsen, CPO and co-founder of Krista Software. “As we integrate AI into our lives and business processes, we must consider that users and consumers may not have computer or data science backgrounds. Business leaders must understand this and deploy AI in a way that they can build trust in AI decisions.”

To read the full 2023 AI Trust Survey report, click here.