China's AI optimism isn't what it seems
China's public displays a notable optimism towards AI technology, contrasting sharply with the fears expressed by Americans. Polling data indicates that a significant majority of Chinese respondents view AI as beneficial and are willing to trust its outputs. This acceptance may stem from historical experiences with economic upheaval, leading to a societal adaptation to disruption.
- ▪More than 85% of Chinese respondents see AI as more beneficial than harmful, compared to less than 45% in the United States.
- ▪73% of Chinese respondents are willing to trust AI system outputs and share relevant information with AI at work.
- ▪Chinese society has learned to adapt to economic disruptions through historical upheaval, influencing its current perception of AI.
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China’s AI optimism isn’t what it seemsThe enthusiasm seems real. But for a population that lived through the mass layoffs of the 1990s, optimism and fear can look identical from the outside.Zilan QianMay 22, 2026ShareThis article was originally published in Asterisk Magazine.Americans — left, right, and everywhere in between — seem to be afraid of AI. They fear data centers speeding up climate change, disinformation and deepfakes, AI companionship, and, above all, job loss from automation.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Hacker News (AI / LLM).
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