Something strange is going on.

• ​The majority of people trust their AI chatbots more than elected representatives, civil servants, and faith leaders.
• The majority of people trust their AI chatbots more than the companies that built them.
• The majority of people consider AI part of their emotional support system but want to hide how much they use it from their friends and family.

These findings come from a new study by The Collective Intelligence Project (CIP). Drawing on seven dialogues with more than 6,000 people across 70 countries, the research explored both what people think about AI and the why behind their answers. (You can learn more about their methodology here. Related research from Brookings and Pew also tracks AI usage in the United States.)

Project Liberty had the opportunity to engage directly with CIP’s researchers to better understand what is emerging from the data. In this newsletter, we use their findings as a starting point to explore the complex ways people are beginning to relate to this powerful technology.

// Five paradoxes

Five paradoxes or contradictions began to emerge around the relationship between AI, trust, and emotions.

// Paradox #1: People are embracing AI, while simultaneously resisting it.

// Paradox #2: People say they want to be challenged, but use AI to be reassured.

// Paradox #3: The public trusts AI chatbots more than elected officials.

// Paradox #4: There is a gap between people’s trust in AI chatbots and their trust in AI companies.

// Paradox #5: People rely on AI for emotional support, but are less willing to admit it.