Drexel Analysis of 230,000 Reddit Posts Finds Trust in Generative AI Slightly Exceeds Distrust

Drexel University analyzed more than 230,000 Reddit posts from November 2022 through June 2025 and found that trust in generative AI slightly exceeded distrust, though the gap was small and fluctuated over time. About 31% of posts expressed trust, 26% distrust, and 41% a neutral view. Users judged AI primarily by usefulness, accuracy, and personal experience rather than abstract ethical concerns.

The research establishes baseline data on public trust for AI education and shows that users focus more on practical performance than ethics, suggesting AI education should emphasize usefulness and reliability. Educational content can better match users' concerns by focusing on those qualities, while governance policy must consider both performance and issues such as transparency and bias.