Why Americans Fear AI More

The U.S. shows unusually high anxiety about generative AI relative to many Asian and European countries, according to recent polls. That gap reflects cultural and political factors (polarization, elite narratives, industry dislocation, and media framing) more than unique technical knowledge, and it helps explain divergent domestic regulation and public debate. — If American technophobia is driven by civic and media dynamics rather than superior evidence, it will skew U.S. regulatory choices, investment flows, and the speed at which AI is adopted or constrained compared with other countries.