MATI — Missouri AI Trust Index Survey

WAIT • Women in AI Trust

MATI

Missouri AI Trust Index

How is AI changing the way you work, connect, and live?

Your answers will build Missouri's first comprehensive AI Trust Index. Every response shapes how our state understands, governs, and benefits from artificial intelligence. Missouri will be the first state in America to measure this.

⏱ Approximately 8 minutes 🔒 All responses confidential

Section I — Your Relationship with AI

Where do you stand with artificial intelligence today?

These questions help us understand how Missourians are engaging with AI across the full spectrum, from deep expertise to active resistance.

WAIT: Adoption posture

Which best describes your current relationship with AI?

I use AI tools daily and understand how they work at a technical level I actively use AI in work and personal life, though I don't fully understand the technology behind them I am curious and experimenting cautiously, but still learning I use AI without realizing it (search, recommendations, voice assistants) but don't seek it out I feel overwhelmed and don't know where to start I am skeptical and intentionally limit my use of AI I actively avoid AI and believe it causes more harm than good

WAIT: Trust trajectory

Over the past 12 months, has your trust in AI increased or decreased?

WAIT: Vibe-coder gap

If you build, deploy, or use AI in your work, how well do you understand what the AI is actually doing?

A growing number of professionals build AI-powered products without understanding the systems they deploy. This question measures that gap in Missouri.

I understand how the models work, their limitations, and their failure modes I have a general understanding of what AI does, but not how it reaches its outputs I use AI tools or build with AI, but I don't really understand what happens behind the scenes I have no understanding of how AI works I don't use AI in my work

WAIT: Shadow AI

Do you use AI tools at work that your employer has not officially approved, evaluated, or provided training for?

Yes, regularly, and my employer doesn't know Yes, sometimes, because approved tools don't meet my needs No, I only use employer-approved AI tools My employer doesn't provide or allow any AI tools I am not currently employed

Section II — AI and Human Relationships

How is AI reshaping the way you connect with other people?

Research shows the more intimate the AI use, the greater the risk to human relationships. These questions help us understand how this plays out across Missouri.

WAIT: Relationship impact

Has your use of AI changed the quality of your relationships with the people closest to you?

Yes, improved them (more time for people, better communication, reduced tedious work) Yes, strained them (less presence, more screen time, less patience for human pace) Mixed effects: some relationships improved, others suffered No noticeable change I haven't thought about this until now

WAIT: AI companionship

Have you ever turned to an AI tool for emotional support, advice, or companionship instead of a person?

18% of young people use AI for personal and relational support. 15% regularly talk to AI characters. We want to understand how this extends across all ages in Missouri.

Yes, regularly. Sometimes AI feels easier to talk to than people. Yes, occasionally, when I needed quick advice or didn't want to burden someone Once or twice, mostly out of curiosity No, I would always go to a person first The idea makes me uncomfortable

WAIT: Connection quality

Do you believe AI is making human beings better or worse at genuinely connecting with each other?

Section III — AI and Youth

How is AI shaping the next generation in Missouri?

National research shows most young people navigate AI without meaningful adult guidance. These questions help Missouri understand the specific risks and opportunities for its youth.

WAIT: Youth concern

How concerned are you about AI's influence on the development of young people in your life or community?

WAIT: Youth risk areas

What concerns you most about young people's relationship with AI?

Select up to three. Your answers help prioritize which AI trust dimensions Missouri should address first.

Loss of critical thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to struggle productively Replacing human friendships and emotional bonds with AI companionship Inability to distinguish AI-generated content from truth Growing dependency on AI for everyday decisions they should learn to make themselves Privacy exploitation and data collection from minors Reduced creativity, originality, and the confidence to think independently Impact on mental health, self-image, and emotional development I am not concerned about youth AI use

WAIT: Adult guidance gap

Are the young people in your life navigating AI with guidance from adults, or mostly on their own?

Mostly on their own. Adults don't know enough to guide them. Adults are trying, but the young people are far ahead Actively guided by parents, teachers, or mentors who understand AI Adults have restricted AI use entirely, without explanation or education Not applicable to my situation

Section IV — AI in the Workplace

How is AI changing your work and your organization?

These questions document the workforce AI readiness gap across Missouri industries and identify what organizations need to govern, train, and measure.

WAIT: Workforce readiness

Has your employer provided any formal training, guidelines, or governance policies for using AI at work?

Yes, comprehensive training and clear policies on approved tools, data handling, and responsible use Some basic guidelines exist, but no formal training program Nothing formal. People figure it out on their own or learn from coworkers. AI use is discouraged or banned, with no explanation of why Not applicable (not employed, self-employed, or retired)

WAIT: AI ROI perception

Do you believe the AI tools used in your workplace are actually improving outcomes, or creating new problems?

Clear, measurable improvement in productivity, quality, or decision-making Some improvement, but also introducing new risks and challenges Unclear. Nobody is measuring whether AI is actually helping. Creating more problems than it solves AI is not used in my workplace

WAIT: Decision traceability

When AI is used to make or support decisions at your organization, can the decision be traced back to a responsible human?

A key dimension of AI trust: whether humans remain accountable for AI-assisted decisions, or AI operates as an invisible, unaccountable decision-maker.

Yes, always. A human reviews and takes responsibility for every AI-assisted decision. Sometimes, but some AI-driven decisions happen without human review Rarely. AI outputs are often accepted without question. I don't know. I have no visibility into how AI-driven decisions are made. Not applicable

Section V — AI and Society

How much do you trust AI in the systems that shape your life?

These questions document public trust in AI across the institutions Missourians depend on daily.

WAIT: Equity gap

Do you believe AI is widening or narrowing the gap between those who have opportunity and those who do not?

Widening significantly. Those with access and literacy benefit. Everyone else falls further behind. Slightly widening, but there's still time to change course No meaningful effect Helping narrow the gap by making tools and knowledge more accessible It depends entirely on who controls the AI and who has access

WAIT: Accountability

Who should be most responsible for ensuring AI is trustworthy?

Select up to two.

The companies and developers that build AI systems Federal, state, and local government regulators The organizations that deploy AI in their products and services Every individual who uses AI tools Independent auditors and trust-scoring organizations All of the above, equally and together

Section VI — The Future of Human Intelligence

What kind of relationship between humans and AI do you want for Missouri?

These questions capture your vision for the future and the values you believe should guide how AI develops in our communities.

WAIT: Human sovereignty

Do you believe humans are still the source of intelligence, with AI as the transmission layer? Or has AI become the source?

This question emerged from conversations at the STL AI Summit with practitioners deeply concerned about where the line between human thought and machine output is being drawn.

Humans are and must remain the source. AI transmits, amplifies, and extends human intelligence, but does not originate it. It is shifting. AI is generating outputs that feel like original intelligence, and the line is blurring. AI has already surpassed human intelligence in many areas and will continue to do so. It is a partnership. The best outcomes come from humans and AI working together. I genuinely don't know, and that uncertainty concerns me.

WAIT: Orchestration

Do you see yourself as someone who uses AI tools, or as someone who orchestrates AI, choosing which tools to use, when to trust them, and when to override them?

I am an orchestrator. I choose the tools, evaluate outputs, and make final decisions. I am a user. I use what's available and generally trust the outputs. I want to be an orchestrator, but I don't have the skills or knowledge yet. I am mostly an observer. AI is happening around me but I'm not actively involved. I am intentionally not engaging with AI.

WAIT: Public demand

If you could ask one thing of the organizations deploying AI in Missouri, what would it be?

Be transparent about where and how AI is being used in your services Always keep a human in control of decisions that affect people's lives Protect children and vulnerable populations before deploying AI that affects them Prove your AI is trustworthy with independent scores and audits before deploying it Include community voices in decisions about how AI is used in our neighborhoods Slow down until we understand the consequences

WAIT: Voice of Missouri

In your own words, what does "trustworthy AI" mean to you?

There is no wrong answer. Your definition matters because trust means different things to different people, and MATI must reflect the full range of perspectives across our state.

WAIT: Unheard concerns

Is there anything about AI's impact on your life, your family, or your community that you feel is being overlooked or ignored?

About You — Optional

Help us understand who is sharing their voice

All fields optional. Demographics ensure MATI represents all Missouri communities. No individual responses will be shared.

Your responses are confidential and used solely to build MATI.
No individual responses shared without explicit consent.
Results published as aggregate community and statewide data.

MATI • Missouri AI Trust Index • WAIT • SANJEEVANI AI

About WAIT • AITI Trust Bar

© 2026 WAIT (Women in AI Trust) • A SANJEEVANI AI Initiative • St. Louis, Missouri
mati.sanjeevaniai.com • wait.sanjeevaniai.com • aiti.sanjeevaniai.com