'India Optimistic, West Shows Anxiety': Rishi Sunak Calls For Closing Global AI Confidence Gap

Last Updated:February 18, 2026, 16:53 IST

Former UK PM noted that this difference in attitude could shape how countries develop and regulate artificial intelligence in the coming years.

Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday pointed out the contrasting global perceptions towards artificial intelligence (AI), saying that while countries like India show “strong optimism", many Western nations “remain anxious" about the fast-growing technology.

Speaking at the ‘Governing in the age of AI: Sovereignty, Impact and Strategy’ event in New Delhi, Sunak said that closing this gap in public confidence is now a major task for leaders across the world.

“Across the world, we’re seeing these different attitudes towards AI. In countries like India, where we are, there’s enormous optimism and trust, and in Western countries, we’re seeing that anxiety is still the dominant feeling towards AI," Sunak said.

He noted that this difference in attitude could shape how countries develop and regulate artificial intelligence in the coming years. According to him, governments must act carefully to ensure that people feel safe and confident about the use of AI in daily life.

“I think closing that confidence gap is as much a policy task as it is a technical one," he added.

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