Detroit residents express caution about government use of AI, survey shows
A University of Michigan survey of more than 2,100 Detroit residents found that 41% remain neutral or uncertain about whether artificial intelligence's benefits to society outweigh its risks. The findings suggest city officials should expect public wariness as they consider expanding AI applications in municipal services.
The Detroit Metro Area Communities Study surveyed residents between August and October 2025 about their views on AI in government. Researchers asked about support for specific applications: managing water systems, helping residents find government resources, monitoring neighborhood conditions, identifying crime suspects, and locating missing children.
Support varies sharply by use case
Residents backed AI for identifying missing children, with 57% expressing approval. Support dropped significantly for other applications: 38% for monitoring neighborhood upkeep, 34% for helping residents navigate government resources, and 30% for managing water systems.
Using AI to identify crime suspects faced the strongest opposition, with 39% of residents against it. About 55% of residents agreed that this application could harm some people even if it helped others.
Efficiency alone doesn't build trust
When asked about potential benefits, residents found efficiency the most persuasive argument for AI. Yet between 20% and 30% remained neutral about efficiency gains across different scenarios, suggesting that operational improvements alone won't generate broad public support.
Concerns about harm and bias persisted across all proposed uses. Between 40% and 55% of residents agreed that AI could harm some people even if it benefited others. Even for the most-supported application-identifying missing children-41% expressed concerns about bias.
About 30% to 35% of residents said they neither agreed nor disagreed that AI would increase fairness in service delivery. Another 10% to 20% said they didn't know whether AI would improve fairness.
Data access remains a major barrier
Nearly two-thirds of residents (64%) would not allow access to their personal data. Only 22% would permit the city to use their personal information from government records to improve a new AI tool's accuracy. The remaining 14% were undecided.
This reluctance signals a fundamental trust gap. City officials hoping to expand AI use should first build confidence by explaining how systems will operate and how resident data will be protected, according to the researchers.
For government professionals evaluating AI adoption, understanding local public opinion is essential. Resources on AI for Government and AI Learning Path for Policy Makers can help officials navigate implementation challenges and build informed governance strategies.
Your membership also unlocks:
