Canadians increasingly wary AI will deepen wealth and opportunity gaps
A larger share (68%) disagreed that everyone has the same opportunity to benefit from the technology.
That skepticism holds steady across every income bracket. Even among households earning $200,000 or more, 62% disagreed that AI opportunity is evenly distributed, while the figure climbed to 73% among those earning under $50,000.
Usage climbs despite the doubts
Daily engagement with AI tools has grown substantially since late last year. The share of Canadians reporting they use AI several times a day rose from 10% in November to 16% by June. Usage also ticked up among those turning to AI once a day, and several times a week, over the same period.
Yet only 16% of respondents landed in the “positive” category on the Institute’s AI Assessment Index, a measure built from four questions gauging trust and perceived impact. Nearly two-thirds fell into the negative (43%) or critical (24%) categories, with the remaining 17% uncertain.
Familiarity with the technology did little to shift those views. Majorities across every assessment group, from the most positive to the most critical, said they know at least a little about AI and its applications, suggesting the unease isn’t rooted in a lack of exposure.
