Public distrusts AI despite widespread usage

In various countries, surveys reveal a significant concern among users regarding the reliability of artificial intelligence (AI) systems. A recent KPMG survey indicated that although around 66 percent of participants use AI regularly, only 46 percent express trust in these systems. This skepticism is further supported by other studies: a survey found that about 82 percent of respondents are cautious about trusting AI-generated overviews in search results, with significant numbers reporting inaccuracies and bias in the content provided. Reports also highlight that about 53 percent of consumers do not trust AI-powered searches or summaries. The troubling trend of hallucinations, inaccuracies, and misinformation in AI-generated content has raised alarms regarding its credibility. Many consumers and organizations are encountering substantial mistakes—42 percent of users reported experiencing misleading information, while 36 percent felt important context was often missing. Additionally, bias in overview results has become a critical concern. These findings contribute to a growing mistrust of AI technology, which is compounded by frequent high-profile failures of AI systems deployed by major tech companies like Microsoft and Google. Further complicating the issue, there are indications that organizations are struggling to integrate AI effectively into their operations. A report cited that 80 percent of companies using generative AI have seen little to no significant impact on their bottom lines. Alarmingly, as many as 42 percent of companies could abandon their AI pilot projects by the end of 2024. This contrasts sharply with the enthusiasm surrounding AI deployment, where many businesses expected transformative results but were left disappointed. Companies often get tripped up by static tools that cannot adapt to their existing workflows. The hype surrounding AI has led to concerns about the creation of a bubble similar to the dot-com collapse of the early 2000s. Experts, such as Chevaugn Powell, have expressed worries that inflated expectations could lead to significant market corrections, evidenced by declines in valuations as AI models are announced and fail to deliver expected results. The overall climate of skepticism towards major tech firms continues to worsen as consumers recognize that the operational realities often fall short of the promises made by these companies.