People in developing countries are usually way more optimistic about AI, seeing it as a huge opportunity and a potential equalizer, while people in the US, Europe and parts of Asia tend to feel more anxious.

True: cross-national surveys from around 2026 (for example Ipsos, Pew, KPMG/University of Melbourne, Stanford AI Index) show that respondents in developing or emerging economies are generally much more optimistic about AI than those in the US, Europe and wealthier Asian countries, who report more anxiety or nervousness. Mostly true: the pattern holds broadly, with notable exceptions or a smaller gap than 'way more' suggests. Mixed: the pattern holds for some measures or regions but not others. Mostly false: the evidence shows only a weak or inconsistent difference, which the claim overstates. False: the surveys show no such pattern, or show the reverse.

Set before the research began.

1. E1 Global Attitudes on AI 2026: The Wonder vs. Worry Divide Deepens Ipsos · 2 June 2026

   “People in Asia and LATAM are on average more likely to think AI has more benefits than drawbacks and are excited about products and services using AI. While in Europe and North America people are on average more likely to feel nervous about AI.”

2. E2 Trust, attitudes and use of artificial intelligence: A global study 2025 University of Melbourne and KPMG International · 2025

   “People in many advanced economies feel more worried than optimistic or excited, whereas optimism and excitement dominate in most emerging economies.”

3. E3 AI Optimism Globally Widespread Despite Uneven Use Gallup · 22 September 2026

   “Expectations are lowest in Bangladesh, where 34% expect AI to mostly help their country, followed by Egypt at 35% and the United States at 36%.”

4. E4 AI Global 2026 Publicfirst · 8 October 2026

   “While sentiment is more positive in Asian and emerging markets, there are some signs that sentiment might be declining too.”

The Ipsos 2026 survey (E1) found people in Asia and Latin America more likely to see AI as having more benefits than drawbacks, and people in Europe and North America more likely to feel nervous about it. KPMG/University of Melbourne (E2) found optimism dominant in most emerging economies and worry dominant in many advanced economies. Public First (E4) also reported more positive sentiment in Asian and emerging markets. However, Gallup (E3) found Bangladesh and Egypt among the countries least likely to expect AI to mostly help, alongside the United States. So the pattern holds broadly, with notable exceptions, and none of the quotes shows how large the gap is or supports "way more".