AI in Germany: A more open public attitude than often assumed
Written by
Editorial TeamPublished on
AI in Germany is viewed more positively than in many Western countries, according to a YouGov survey, despite ongoing concerns about jobs, democracy, and media.
Public discussions around AI in Germany often emphasize caution, regulation, and skepticism. However, international survey data presents a more balanced picture. According to an international study conducted by YouGov, German citizens are among the most open-minded toward artificial intelligence when compared with other Western countries.
The survey, carried out in August 2025 across Europe, North America, and Australia, shows that attitudes toward AI in Germany are neither overwhelmingly enthusiastic nor deeply skeptical. Instead, they reflect a pragmatic and differentiated public perception.
General attitudes toward AI in Germany
When asked about their overall attitude toward artificial intelligence, 34% of citizens in Germany report a generally positive view, while 36% describe their position as ambivalent. Only 28% express a negative attitude.
In international comparison, this places AI in Germany in a relatively favorable position. Countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada show notably higher levels of skepticism, with close to or more than one-third of respondents expressing negative views.
These findings challenge the common perception that Germany is particularly resistant to new technologies. Instead, skepticism toward AI appears more pronounced in several other Western societies.
Do the benefits of AI in Germany outweigh the risks?
Opinions on whether artificial intelligence brings more advantages or disadvantages to society are similarly balanced. 35% of German citizens believe that AI has more advantages than disadvantages, while 24% believe the opposite. Another 30% feel that the positive and negative effects balance each other out.
In this respect, AI in Germany is viewed somewhat less optimistically than in Spain or Denmark, but more favorably than in English-speaking countries. In the United States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, significantly fewer citizens believe that AI offers a positive overall trade-off for society
AI in Germany and its impact on jobs
Concerns increase sharply when the discussion turns to employment. 57% of German citizens believe that AI will lead to more job losses than job creation, reflecting a widespread fear shared across almost all surveyed countries.
Only Denmark shows a less pessimistic outlook. In contrast, citizens in Great Britain, Australia, and the United States express even stronger concerns about the labor market effects of AI.
Despite this, most workers in Germany are not currently worried about their own jobs. 78% of employed Germans say they are unconcerned about their present employment, indicating that concerns are focused more on structural change than on immediate personal risk.
Looking ahead: Future job security and AI in Germany
While current job security remains a relatively minor concern, views become more pessimistic when looking toward the future. 22% of German workers fear that AI will negatively affect their jobs in the future.
Even here, AI in Germany is viewed more calmly than in many other countries. Workers in Australia, Canada, the United States, and Great Britain are significantly more likely to expect negative future impacts on employment.
Where AI in Germany is seen as beneficial
Across all surveyed countries, citizens clearly differentiate between areas where AI is seen as beneficial and areas where concerns dominate. Healthcare and medicine receive consistently positive ratings, with strong net approval scores.
AI is also viewed positively for simplifying everyday tasks, both at work and in daily life. German citizens, in particular, rate the impact of AI highly in mobility and crime prevention, where approval levels are significantly higher than in other countries International YouGov survey_ Ge….
Additionally, respondents in Germany express more positive views on the role of AI in schools, education, and customer service than citizens elsewhere.
Areas of concern: democracy, media, and culture
Despite these positive assessments, several areas raise serious concerns. Across all countries, citizens rate the impact of AI negatively when it comes to democracy, news and media, and peace and international security.
The influence of AI on dating, personal relationships, and older generations is also viewed more negatively than positively. These concerns are not unique to AI in Germany but are shared internationally, underscoring widespread unease about the societal consequences of AI technologies.
Conclusion
Overall, the YouGov survey shows that AI in Germany is viewed with a relatively high degree of openness compared to other Western countries. Germans recognize the benefits of AI in areas such as healthcare, mobility, and everyday work, while simultaneously expressing concern about its impact on employment, democracy, and media.
Rather than strong enthusiasm or deep skepticism, public opinion on AI in Germany reflects a cautious but pragmatic approach—one that acknowledges both opportunities and risks without resorting to extremes.
Methodology
The findings presented in this article are based on data from an international survey conducted by YouGov. The survey was carried out between August 13 and August 28, 2025, using online interviews with members of the YouGov panel who had previously consented to participate.
A total of 2,316 respondents in Germany took part in the survey. Additional samples were collected in Great Britain (2,192), France (1,002), Denmark (947), Spain (1,056), Italy (1,035), Australia (1,504), the United States (1,128), and Canada (987).
The survey was conducted using a quota-based sampling approach, with quotas set for age, gender, education, region, and voting behavior. The data were subsequently weighted to ensure that the results are representative of the resident population aged 18 and over in each respective country.
