The US and China are locked in a race for AI supremacy, but the attitudes of the general public towards the new technology are markedly different.
According to the 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer Flash Poll on Trust and Artificial Intelligence, China leads the world in public enthusiasm for AI adoption, with 54% of respondents saying they embrace the growing use of artificial intelligence. This stands in stark contrast to the United States, where only 17% express similar enthusiasm, while 49% say they reject AI’s expanding role.
The survey reveals a clear geographic divide in AI sentiment. Brazil shows the second-highest embrace rate at 35%, with just 24% rejecting AI use. Meanwhile, developed Western markets demonstrate significant skepticism: Germany registers 42% rejection versus 16% embrace, while the UK shows 46% rejection compared to 18% acceptance.
The gap between embrace and rejection is particularly striking. China shows a positive 44-point margin (54% embrace minus 10% reject), while the US displays a negative 32-point margin (17% embrace minus 49% reject). Germany and the UK face even steeper challenges, with negative margins of 26 and 28 points respectively.
Implications for the AI Race
This divergence in public sentiment could have meaningful implications for the broader competition between Washington and Beijing over AI dominance. Much like access to electricity, computing infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks, public attitudes represent a critical factor in determining which nation can most effectively deploy and scale artificial intelligence technologies.
A population that embraces AI may be more willing to adopt AI-powered services, participate in data collection that improves AI systems, and support government and corporate investments in the technology. Chinese companies could find it easier to test and deploy AI applications across sectors like healthcare, transportation, and finance if they face less public resistance. This could accelerate iteration cycles and create faster feedback loops for improving AI systems.
Conversely, widespread skepticism in the United States and Europe could slow AI adoption, create political pressure for restrictive regulations, and limit the data ecosystems that fuel machine learning improvements. Companies in these markets may face greater scrutiny, longer approval processes, and more public backlash when AI systems make errors or raise privacy concerns.
The survey suggests that China may possess a structural advantage in the AI race that extends beyond raw computing power or research talent—a population primed to welcome rather than resist the technology’s integration into daily life.