Across the world, young people seem to trust AI more than old people, but such is the difference in attitudes between US and China that young US people trust AI at half the rate of old Chinese people.
A new survey from Edelman reveals stark generational and geographic divides in AI trust, with the gap between nations sometimes exceeding the gap between age groups within a single country. The findings suggest that cultural and national factors may play a larger role in shaping AI attitudes than age alone.
The 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer Flash Poll surveyed over 5,000 people across five countries—Brazil, China, Germany, the UK, and the US—asking respondents how much they trust artificial intelligence on a scale from one to ten.
The Age Gap
Globally, younger people express significantly more trust in AI than their older counterparts. Among 18-34 year olds surveyed, 62% trust AI, compared to 57% of those aged 35-54 and just 40% of people 55 and older. This pattern held true across most countries in the study, suggesting that familiarity with technology and different formative experiences may drive more positive attitudes among digital natives.
However, the magnitude of this age divide varies considerably by country. In the UK, the gap between youngest and oldest groups reaches 41 percentage points, while in China, trust remains consistently high across all age brackets, with only a two-point difference between generations.
The US Stands Out
Perhaps most striking is how American youth buck the global trend. Only 40% of young Americans trust AI—the lowest of any age group in any country surveyed except for older Germans and Britons. This places US youth well behind their peers in other nations and barely ahead of Americans in the 35-54 age bracket, who register 35% trust.
The contrast with China is particularly dramatic. While 88% of young Chinese people trust AI, young Americans trust it at less than half that rate. Even 55+ year olds in China (86% trust) vastly outpace American youth.
National Differences Dominate
The data reveals that where you live may matter more than how old you are when it comes to AI attitudes. China shows remarkably high trust across all age groups, with 86-88% trusting AI regardless of generation. Brazil also demonstrates strong trust, particularly among middle-aged respondents at 71%.
Meanwhile, Western nations show considerably more skepticism. Germany, the UK, and especially the US all register trust levels below 60% even among their youngest cohorts. The UK sees just 18% trust among people 55 and older, while Germany registers 29% in the same age group.
These findings arrive as AI continues its rapid integration into daily life through tools like ChatGPT, workplace automation, and algorithmic decision-making systems. The survey suggests that tech companies and policymakers face vastly different challenges in different markets—and that winning over American youth may be as difficult as persuading skeptical seniors in other countries.