AI Trust Poll: Skepticism and Caution Abound

Published Date : 6/9/2025 

A recent poll reveals that a majority of people are skeptical about trusting AI, with concerns ranging from accuracy to safety. Only 13% believe AI will improve their lives, while 55% express no trust in AI's ability to act safely or fairly. 

Everywhere we turn, we are reminded of the rapid advances that artificial intelligence (AI) is making. As the technology continues to evolve, it raises an important question: Can we really trust it?

Trusting AI can mean many things — from letting it recommend a TV show to watch to relying on it for medical advice or putting it in charge of your car. On Aug. 29, we shared a poll asking readers where they stand on AI's trustworthiness, and 382 people responded.

At the time of writing, the results show that only 13% believe they can trust AI and that it will improve their lives, while 55% expressed no trust in AI to act safely or fairly. Around 32% were unsure and wanted stronger safeguards before making up their mind.

User comments suggested that readers are cautious about AI and expressed concerns about accuracy, autonomy, and the limitations of the current technology. “Artificial general intelligence is still a work of fiction and always will be - nothing that Sam Altman [CEO of OpenAI] or any of the LLM shills have to say will ever change that,” wrote BeneathTheClay.

Some commenters highlighted what they believe are LLMs' limitations. “We don’t trust [large language models] LLMs, nor do we think the fundamental technology can ever become an 'AI' to any degree whatsoever,” Varian commented. They added that “the fundamental truth is that LLMs have no concept of time, past, present, or future. A request is processed, the process is handled, and further requests can have previous requests force-fed back to it until it runs out of available ram. That’s the entirety of it.”

Others suggested that LLMS are unlikely to ever be fully intelligent. “AI is just about automation, the knowledge humans have acquired so far stored in computers is automatically retrieved on our request. I see no intelligence in AI,” Jose p.koshy said. “We can trust it as long as our request to AI is unambiguous and pertains to data only. We cannot leave the decision-making process to AI.”

Some readers took a more philosophical look at the rapid growth of AI and LLMs. “I trust AI the way a sailor trusts the sea. It can carry you far, or it can drown you,” Huhnverloren wrote. “We have a chance, maybe just one, to get it right. So, how do we want to receive the reflection of its mind?”

These insights highlight the complex relationship between humans and AI, emphasizing the need for balanced and thoughtful development of AI technologies. As AI continues to evolve, it is crucial to address these concerns and ensure that the technology is used in a way that benefits society while minimizing potential risks. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What percentage of people trust AI to improve their lives?

A: Only 13% of the respondents in the poll believe that AI will improve their lives.

Q: What are the main concerns people have about AI?

A: The main concerns people have about AI include accuracy, autonomy, and the limitations of the current technology.

Q: What is the stance of most people on trusting AI?

A: 55% of the respondents expressed no trust in AI to act safely or fairly.

Q: What is the view of some commenters on the limitations of large language models (LLMs)?

A: Some commenters believe that LLMs have no concept of time, past, present, or future, and that they are fundamentally limited in their capabilities.

Q: What philosophical perspective did some readers share about AI?

A: Some readers compared AI to the sea, suggesting that it can carry you far or drown you, emphasizing the need to approach AI with caution and responsibility. 

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