What does the public think about artificial intelligence? An investigation of technological frames in different technological context

Abstract

Public participation is crucial for the governance of artificial intelligence (AI). However, the public is typically portrayed as a passive recipient in practice, and little is known about their expectations, assumptions and knowledge about AI. Based on the theoretical lens of technological frames, and using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) and content coding on 114,393 relevant comments, the article explores public perceptions of the nature of AI, AI strategy and AI in use, and further compares the discourse before and after the launch of ChatGPT. The findings show that ChatGPT amplifies public enthusiasm and expectations of AI, as well as concerns and fears, and draws attention to national competition. However, public discourses are generally conflicting and preliminary, characterized by abstract and grandiose narratives, posing challenges in reaching consensus and generating practical insights. Therefore, this analysis raises serious concerns over public participation in AI governance, as the public not only faces limited channels for substantive involvement but also struggles to articulate effective discourses in the public sphere.