Germany, US, and UK Show Significant Rejection of Increased AI Use, Recent Poll Reveals

Western Nations Express Unease Over AI Expansion

A recent flash poll, 'Trust and Artificial Intelligence at a Crossroads,' conducted by the Edelman Trust Institute in November 2025 and referenced in January 2026, has revealed significant public resistance to the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across several Western nations. The survey indicates that Germany, the United States, and the United Kingdom largely reject the growing deployment of AI by over a two-to-one margin. This sentiment suggests that more than 4 in 10 individuals in these countries are resistant to the expanded adoption of AI technologies.

Nuanced Public Opinion in Germany

While the Edelman poll points to a general rejection of increased AI use, other recent surveys offer a more nuanced view of German public sentiment. A YouGov survey conducted in August 2025 suggested that German citizens are, in fact, among the most open-minded toward AI compared to other Western countries. In this poll, 34% of Germans reported a generally positive view of AI, with 36% expressing ambivalence, and only 28% holding a negative attitude. However, concerns persist, with 57% of German citizens believing that AI will lead to more job losses than job creation. Similarly, a KPMG study from May 2025 found that while 66% of Germans use AI in various aspects of their lives, only 32% trust AI-generated information, placing Germany below the international average for trust.

Broader Western Skepticism and Drivers of Concern

The skepticism observed in the Edelman poll is echoed in other findings across the 'Anglosphere.' An Ipsos Mori poll from June 2025 indicated that people in English-speaking countries, including the UK and US, are generally more nervous about the rise of AI than those in larger EU economies like Germany, France, and Italy. In the United States, specifically, 70% of respondents in the Edelman poll believe that CEOs are not being truthful about potential job losses due to AI. The Edelman Trust Institute suggests that this hesitation towards AI is often rooted more in unfamiliarity with the technology than in negative personal experiences.

Calls for Regulation and the Role of Trust

Amidst varying levels of acceptance and concern, there is a strong demand for clear guidelines and regulation. The KPMG study highlighted that three-quarters of Germans call for clear international standards for AI, and 71% desire joint regulation by government bodies and industry. The European Union's AI Act, which took effect in Germany on August 1, 2024, represents a significant step towards establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework for AI. The Pew Research Center's Spring 2025 survey also noted that across 25 countries, people tend to trust the EU more than the US or China to regulate AI effectively. These findings underscore that building public trust through transparency, education, and robust regulatory frameworks is crucial for fostering greater acceptance of AI's evolving role in society.