Nervous about artificial intelligence? You’re not alone: half of Americans now say they’re more concerned than excited about the ways AI is changing daily life. But most people surveyed also recognize that AI is changing some things for the better. Take science: with its ability to detect never-before-seen patterns in complex systems, AI is speeding the search for everything from new medicines to new galaxies.

In just a few years, AI has gone from a tech novelty to a society-altering force. It has revolutionized scientific research, classrooms and workplaces. People around the planet have turned to it to break through writer’s block and to contest parking tickets.