People in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are significantly more optimistic than their counterparts in Europe and North America about artificial intelligence creating jobs, with 66% believing generative AI will create more quality jobs than it destroys, according to a new global study by the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute.
The finding highlights a sharp regional divide in perceptions of AI’s impact on employment. Only 27% of respondents in Europe and 33% in North America share this optimism, while agreement is considerably higher in Asia and Africa, at 57% in both regions.
The MENA findings are based on responses from three countries surveyed in the region: Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Morocco.
The report, FII Priority Compass 2026, produced in partnership with Ipsos, draws on interviews with 61,200 people across 32 countries between April 24 and June 5, 2026.
Globally, however, concerns about AI’s impact on employment remain significant. While 46% of respondents believe generative AI will create more quality jobs than it destroys, 54% disagree. The report also notes that pessimism has increased compared with last year, when 49% agreed with the statement and 51% disagreed.
The divide is particularly pronounced between developed and developing economies. In the Global North, 70% disagree that AI will create more quality jobs than it destroys, compared with 43% in the Global South.
Despite the optimism about employment opportunities, the findings point to wider concerns about the risks associated with the technology and the need for safeguards.
The study found that 85% of respondents support establishing a global framework or rules to regulate artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, 80% reject the use of AI tools in making final decisions in sensitive areas such as hiring, justice and healthcare.
Six in 10 respondents (61%) also believe humans will lose control over advanced AI within the next 20 years.
Interest in acquiring AI-related skills is also strong, particularly in developing economies. The report found that 57% of respondents globally would be willing to pay for classes to improve their AI skills and knowledge. The proportion rises to 71% in the Global South, compared with 36% in the Global North.
The survey also found that 66% of respondents in the Global South are confident that their jobs will not be replaced by AI, compared with 56% in the Global North.
The report cautions that samples in some countries, including Saudi Arabia and Morocco, are not nationally representative because of lower internet penetration. They instead reflect more urban, educated and/or affluent populations.
The fifth edition of the FII Priority Compass examines public perceptions of economic conditions, technology, employment, healthcare, education and other issues shaping the future.
