AI optimism surges in Asia, unlike in the U.S.
A recent Stanford University study reveals that optimism and trust in AI are significantly higher in Asian countries compared to the United States, where public sentiment is marked by skepticism and resistance. While Southeast Asian nations like Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia show strong confidence in government regulation and rapid AI adoption, the U.S. lags in both public trust and enthusiasm. This divergence is influencing global AI development, affecting talent flows, investment decisions, and infrastructure expansion.
- ▪Only 38% of U.S. respondents said AI products make them excited, compared to 84% in China and over 75% in several Southeast Asian countries.
- ▪Just 31% of Americans trust their government to regulate AI responsibly, the lowest rate in the study, while Singapore scored 81%.
- ▪Singapore reported a 61% AI adoption rate in late 2025, more than double the U.S. rate of 28%.
- ▪The number of AI researchers and developers moving to the U.S. has dropped 89% since 2017, with an 80% decline in the past year alone.
- ▪Resistance to data center construction in the U.S. is delaying projects and prompting companies to consider alternative global locations.
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Global Dispatch AI optimism surges in Asia, unlike in the U.S. New research shows Americans are far less excited about AI — and far less trusting of regulators — than their counterparts across Asia. By Rina Chandran Rina Chandran is a deputy editor at Rest of World, based in San Francisco. 24 April 2026 Rest of World Rest of World By Rina Chandran 24 April 2026 Global Dispatch AI optimism surges in Asia, unlike in the U.S. By Rina Chandran > Global Dispatch This essay was first published in our Global Dispatch newsletter. Sign up here to get it straight to your inbox. A Molotov cocktail-type device was flung at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s home in San Francisco a couple of weeks ago.
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