AI is being mentioned in global media at a record pace, showing how the technology is spreading across industries and regions. This rise in visibility is matched by growing confusion about what AI actually does and how it affects everyday life. Technologies that can help diagnose illness, reduce pollution and save work hours are also linked to fraud, misinformation and rising inequality.
In a single day this month, AI appeared in more than 2,100 global headlines, according to searches on media database Factiva. That is a sharp rise from 764 mentions at the same time last year and far higher than the 140 mentions in 2022, just before tools like ChatGPT gained widespread use. In 2015 there were only nine mentions. AI is now everywhere, though often in ways that are difficult to understand.
Although companies are investing billions in AI and some firms are reportedly offering signing bonuses of up to $100 million to secure AI specialists, there is still limited clarity on how the technology is used day-to-day. While users are told it can automate tasks or detect signs of disease in minutes, much of the media coverage centres on concerns about job losses, intellectual property misuse and the environmental impact of training large AI models.
Examples of AI in action can be impressive. These include mobile apps assisting African farmers and research that fights drug-resistant bacteria. However, such examples often feel removed from most people's daily experience of AI, which usually consists of unreliable chatbot responses or tools used for fact-checking that instead mislead.
Research shows even experienced users do not always gain from using AI. One recent study found seasoned software developers were nearly 19% slower when using AI coding tools. While AI usage in workplaces is increasing, with 8% of US workers using it daily, the vast majority remain unengaged or uncertain.
Public opinion is sharply divided. A Gallup poll found 50% of Americans believe AI will improve life, while the other 50% see it as a threat to humanity. Notably, 64% said they plan to avoid AI for as long as possible, a reaction similar to early resistance to mobile phones, which are now standard.
Although AI may still offer transformative benefits in the future, for most people today it creates more confusion than clarity.
