Global study: AI job loss fears outpace creation hopes

A new Pew Research Center study finds that globally, more people expect artificial intelligence to eliminate jobs than to create them, with concerns strongest in wealthier nations. The survey of over 50,000 people across 37 countries was conducted between February and June 2026. In Australia, South Korea, and the US, roughly seven in ten adults believe AI will cause job losses within the next 20 years. Wealthier countries also show greater concern about AI worsening economic inequality, a trend linked to higher familiarity with the technology. Younger adults aged 18-34 are more worried about AI-related job losses than older generations in several countries. The report also reveals that in Bangladesh, Malaysia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the West Bank, populations trust China more than the US or EU for AI governance. The publication coincides with calls from AI leaders like Sam Altman and Elon Musk to slow development, supported by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.