A two-layer model of technology lay beliefs and their societal and political consequences: The case of AI.

Modern technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) can contribute to economic and societal prosperity. Yet, independent of their actual effects, consumers, workers, and the public often hold negative beliefs about these technologies, which can contribute to aversion to AI and technological change more broadly. This article examines technology lay beliefs, with AI as the focal case, and proposes an interconnected two-layer model to explain their societal impact. Layer 1 captures general psychological predispositions to technological change that provide a baseline for why technology lay beliefs often emphasize potential losses. Layer 2 captures specific contextual interpretations of AI that amplify or attenuate this baseline. We use this model to organize existing research and discuss the societal and political consequences of technology lay beliefs in the age of AI.