Fear of the future: Understanding artificial intelligence phobia and its socio-cultural implications

Authors: Abdulqadir J. Nashwan ¹, Ahmad F. Klaib ^{2, 3,} *, Mohammed Al-Hassan ⁴, Anil Raj. Assariparambil ^{5, 6}, Ayat J. Nashwan ^{7, 8}, I Gede Juanamasta ⁹, Ayman Mohamed El-Ashry ^{10, 11}, Mohammad Al-Zaatreh ¹², Hana J. Abukhadijah ¹³

Affiliations:

 ¹Nursing Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
 ²Department of Computer Engineering, Al Yamamah University, Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia
 ³Department of Information Systems, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
 ⁴Faculty of Nursing, University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada
 ⁵Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
 ⁶College of Health Sciences, VinUniversity, Hanoi, Vietnam
 ⁷Department of Sociology, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
 ⁸Sociology and Social Work Department, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
 ⁹Nursing Program, STIKes Wira Medika Bali, Denpasar, Indonesia
 ¹⁰Department of Nursing, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Al-Qurayyat, Saudi Arabia
 ¹¹Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
 ¹²School of Nursing, German Jordanian University, Amman, Jordan
 ¹³Clinical Trials Unit, Medical Care and Research Center, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar

Abstract

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into everyday life, AI phobia—defined as fear and distrust toward AI technologies—has emerged as an important social and cultural concern. This narrative review examines the main origins and drivers of AI phobia, with particular attention to the influence of media portrayals on public perceptions. Key concerns such as job displacement, threats to privacy, and the reduction of human control in decision-making are identified as major contributors to these fears. The review also discusses the wider societal consequences of AI phobia, including its potential effects on technological innovation and public trust in AI systems. To address these challenges, this paper highlights the need for improved public education, stronger ethical guidelines, and more transparent communication about both the risks and benefits of AI. The review concludes by emphasizing the importance of continued interdisciplinary research to support the ethical, responsible, and equitable integration of AI into society.

Keywords

Artificial intelligence, AI phobia, Public perception, Media influence, Ethical governance

Download

📄 Full PDF

DOI

https://doi.org/10.21833/ijaas.2026.02.014

Citation (APA)

Nashwan, A. J., Klaib, A. F., Al-Hassan, M., Assariparambil, A. R., Nashwan, A. J., Juanamasta, I. G., El-Ashry, A. M., Al-Zaatreh, M., & Abukhadijah, H. J. (2026). Fear of the future: Understanding artificial intelligence phobia and its socio-cultural implications. International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences, 13(2), 134–143. https://doi.org/10.21833/ijaas.2026.02.014