The mistrust of AI seen in the media, industry and education reflects deep-seated cultural anxieties,
often comparable to societal prejudices like racism and sexism. Throughout history, literature and
media have portrayed machines as antagonists, amplifying fears of technological obsolescence and
identity loss. Despite the recent remarkable advancements in AI—particularly in creative and
decision-making capacities—human resistance to its adoption persists, rooted in a combination of
technophobia, algorithm aversion, and cultural narratives of dystopia. This review investigates the
origins of this prejudice, focusing on the parallels between current attitudes toward AI and
historical resistance to new technologies. Drawing on examples from popular media and recent
research, the article reveals how AI, despite outperforming humans in some creative tasks, is often
undervalued due to bias. The evidence shows that the tool can significantly augment human
creativity and productivity, yet these benefits are frequently undermined by persistent skepticism.
The article argues that this prejudice represents a critical barrier to the full realization of the
potential of the generative technology and calls for a reexamination of human-AI collaboration,
emphasizing the importance of addressing these biases both culturally and within educational and
professional frameworks.