Why opinion on AI is so divided

The 2026 AI Index report reveals significant disparities in opinions about AI between experts and the general public, with experts more optimistic about AI's impact on jobs, the economy, and medical care. The report highlights the rapid advancements in AI models, particularly in coding tasks, but also notes the "jagged frontier" where models excel in some areas and struggle in others. Power users of AI, such as those utilizing language models for coding or research, are experiencing the technology at its best, leading to a growing gap in understanding AI capabilities. The divide between experts and non-experts in AI underscores the complexities and uncertainties surrounding the current state of AI technology.