The most recent study, conducted jointly by the Political Threshold program of the Institute for Social Studies in Population (Idespo) and the Science, Technology, Society, and Innovation Program of the School of Sociology at the National University (UNA), found concerns about Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The survey was conducted from May 14 to 24, 2025. It has a confidence level of 95% and a margin of error of 3.8%. A large percentage of respondents (87%) believe that AI should be regulated. Men over 50 and women between 26 and 35 are the most likely to think this way.
Faced with this perception, citizens place the level of trust they can generate in AI somewhere in the middle: a quarter of the sample agrees. At the extremes, 17.7% have no trust at all, and 5.25% express complete trust.
Among those who do have access to AI, more than 8 in 10 people indicate they use it as virtual assistants and chatbots. From then on, mentions are at lower percentages, such as “specific-use applications and platforms” (4.8%), “communication and networking platforms” (4.6%), and “thinking and text creation” (2.7%).
AI: Values and Behaviors
It is a fact that for the majority (67%), science and technology exert a high degree of influence on their lives, “which suggests that they are not abstract concepts, but rather are considered active tools for solving everyday problems,” the report notes.
91.5% “strongly agree” and “somewhat agree” with the idea that science and technology improve people’s living conditions. However, when asked “whether new technologies should be used with caution,” 79.2% of women and 78.1% said they “strongly agree” with this statement.
This level of caution is aligned with a majority perception that, in the future, these disruptions would change people’s current values: 7.5% said yes, either absolutely or to some extent.
Delving into philosophical assessments on the topic, the Idespo and School of Sociology survey determined whether these changes “cause people to lose their understanding of good and evil.” On this point, opinions are more divided, although the majority are inclined to say they “totally agree” (30.7%), compared to those who “totally disagree” (15.9%).
A large majority (62.3%) agree, to some extent, that science is governed by ethical principles. Similarly, three-quarters of those surveyed believe that scientific research seeks the common good of society.
Between “neutral” and optimism
Citizens overwhelmingly express a neutral stance when trying to establish a connection between the current world situation and scientific and technological advancement: this is the opinion of 23.8%.
The second largest group is optimists, made up of 17.2%. In the field of innovation, the majority disagree (60.3%) with the statement that few people can be innovative. However, 13.9% agree with this statement. On the other hand, three out of 10 citizens believe that Costa Rica stands out in this area, and 69.3% indicate they are interested in the topic.
What phrases do citizens associate with innovation? Both men and women, with varying percentages, associate it with “technological innovations” and “innovations over time.”
Uses and Habits
The report “Perception of the Costa Rican Population and Residents in the Country on Science, Technology, and Innovation” determined that almost the entire population (96.8%) has access to the Internet. Of the total, 40% are over 50 years old, while 26% are between 36 and 50 years old, and 19% are between 26 and 35 years old.
75% of those interviewed use the Internet for entertainment. This use is combined with other uses, as reflected in the survey: 72% interact with other people, 49% use it for work-related matters, 43% receive information, and 31% use it for paperwork. However, half of the sample reported having to adjust their finances or face economic restrictions to acquire new technology.
While 71.9% expressed interest in science and technology, men say they get information about these topics from the internet (62.4%), reading or watching the news (40.5%), and listening to programs (26.5%).
In the case of women, the sources do not vary, but their percentages do: the internet at 48.8%, reading or watching the news at 35.6%, and listening to programs at 22.5%.
When it comes to media, both men and women prioritize search engines (44.3% and 37.1%), television (38.7% and 37.3%), and videos (33% and 25.7%). Men did give social media a high rating (64.4%), while women did (17.2%).
“It is important to highlight that a large portion of the population, both men and women, agree that the information available on science and technology is sufficient. They also identify the existence of different points of view, which is perceived as highly useful,” the report states.
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