In the AI Twilight Zone: Everyday Use Meets Existential Fear

AI sits in a paradox: most users find it only modestly useful, while policymakers and lab insiders warn it could ruin society—yet development races ahead. Industry struggles to sell benefits while addressing fears, as public opinion shifts and bipartisan calls for safeguards rise after high-profile warnings, creating a high-stakes, confusing debate over how to regulate and guide AI’s rapid progress.