Understanding Societal Perceptions of AI: An Analysis of Social Media Discourse

Abstract

This inquiry examines public perceptions of Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen-AI) via social media discourse, evaluating its cross-sectoral impact alongside attendant ethical, cultural, and behavioral implications. Utilizing a qualitative methodological framework, data were harvested from X (formerly Twitter) through targeted hashtags, including “#GenAI,” “#GenerativeAI,” and “#ChatGPT.” A corpus of 3,489 tweets underwent analysis via sophisticated Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques, specifically BERT-based sentiment analysis and BERTopic for thematic modeling. The results indicate a prevailing positive sentiment toward Gen-AI, with discourse emphasizing enhanced efficiency, creativity, and innovation. Conversely, negative sentiments focused on misinformation, ethical ambiguity, and the potential erosion of human creativity. Predominant hashtags identified were #GenAI and #ChatGPT, while primary thematic clusters included digital transformation, AI-mediated artistry, agentic AI, cybersecurity, and pedagogical applications. Supplementary analyses of imagery and emojis corroborated a largely optimistic tone. This research highlights the dualistic nature of Gen-AI as both a driver of productivity and a catalyst for systemic risks, such as technological dependency and threats to academic integrity. Consequently, the findings advocate for the implementation of comprehensive governance frameworks, AI literacy programs, and design paradigms that uphold human agency while ensuring the responsible integration of AI technologies.