AI is simultaneously scary, exciting, confusing, ever-changing, and, however we approach it, an opened Pandora’s box. To summarize, a 2025 Pew Research Center poll breaks down Americans’ conflicting attitudes toward AI:
- People feel more concern than excitement about the increased uncontrollable use of AI in their lives;
- More people believe that AI will degrade people’s ability to think creatively and form close relationships;
- A majority of people are receptive to letting AI assist them with day-to-day tasks;
- Most people don’t support AI playing a role in personal matters, such as religion or matchmaking, but are more supportive about AI for heavy data analysis;
- Finally, people feel strongly that it’s important to be able to identify whether images, videos or text are AI- or human-generated, but many don’t trust themselves to be able to discern the difference.
To learn more about this hot topic, June’s First Thursday Book Discussion will focus on Karen Hao’s “Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI.” This is a timely, hefty and well-reported book that sometimes reads like a thriller with its unique characters, rapid pace and conflicting visions of possibilities. It offers detailed historical insight into Silicon Valley, as well as addresses ethical questions about this new global empire that revolve around labor exploitation, environmental concerns, and ultimately, power.
However you stand on AI, and however frequently or infrequently you encounter or use it in daily life, come with your questions and opinions on Thursday, June 4 at noon for a stimulating conversation.
