A new study reveals a growing divide in how artificial intelligence is perceived: while AI experts are generally more optimistic about its potential, many members of the public focus on its negative impacts. One of the main concerns is job security, as automation and AI continue to evolve. Jobs that involve repetitive tasks, such as data entry, basic customer service, and routine manufacturing, are considered particularly at risk. Additionally, roles in transportation, retail, and even some areas of journalism and law are being closely watched as AI systems become more capable. The study highlights the importance of balancing innovation with thoughtful strategies to support workers in vulnerable sectors.
The fear of being replaced by AI systems in the long term is widespread—and not without reason. A new study by the Pew Research Center, as reported by CNBC, highlights a significant gap between public perception and expert opinion on the impact of artificial intelligence. While AI experts are generally more optimistic about the technology’s potential benefits, they also acknowledge that certain professions do face genuine risks. Roles that involve routine tasks, limited human interaction, or easily automatable processes are particularly vulnerable. The study underscores the need for proactive measures to prepare the workforce for a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
“Automation doesn’t just replace jobs—it reshapes them, demanding new skills for a changing world.”
For the study, 1,000 AI experts and 5,400 adults in the U.S. were surveyed to compare their views on the future impact of artificial intelligence. The findings reveal a stark contrast: 56 percent of AI experts believe AI will have a positive effect over the next 20 years, while only 17 percent of the general population share that optimism. Overall, experts are far less worried about widespread job losses caused by AI. However, they do stress that specific fields of work are likely to undergo significant changes or shifts, requiring adaptation and reskilling in the years ahead. The cashier profession is most frequently cited as being at risk: 73 percent of the experts surveyed believe these jobs will be replaced by AI—exactly the same proportion as the general population. In other areas, assessments vary further: While 67 percent of US citizens believe that factory jobs are threatened by new technologies, only 60 percent of experts share this assessment. In some professional groups, however, there is broad agreement. For example, 60 percent of AI experts and 59 percent of other respondents believe that jobs could also be lost in journalism. For software developers, the assessments are also close, with 50 percent (experts) and 48 percent (general public). Even in the area of ​​mental health, 29 percent of citizens and 27 percent of professionals believe that therapists could be replaced by AI in the long term.
“AI is not just coming—it’s the engine of a new technological transformation, reshaping how we live, work, and think.”
