Exposure to AI-themed films and perceptions of artificial intelligence: a survey of Saudi young adults in Saudi Arabia

Abstract Purpose This research investigates the perception of Saudi young adults aged between 18–35 years about artificial intelligence (AI) based on the exposure to AI themed movies. It hypothesizes that, based on Cultivation Theory, more exposure to such movies leads to dystopian perceptions of AI and moderation of those perceptions by demographic factors (age, gender and education). Methodology A sample of 410 Saudi respondents was recruited through snowball sampling on social media platforms. Participants reported their level of exposure to AI-related movies, provided demographic information, and indicated their perceptions of AI. Data were analysed using chi-square tests of independence (with Cramer’s V for effect size) and binary logistic regression to assess associations while controlling for age, gender, and education. Results Results showed that higher exposure to AI-themed movies was significantly associated with viewing AI as a threat to humanity ( p = 0.003, Cramer’s V = 0.14), providing partial support for Cultivation Theory. Younger and more educated respondents, however, were more likely to attribute emotional capacity and social value to AI, indicating that demographic variables can soften or reshape movie-induced perceptions. Originality/value This study is among the first empirical applications of Cultivation Theory to movies in a Saudi context. It extends the theory to a non-Western society experiencing rapid modernisation under Vision 2030. The findings reveal that movies act as a source of AI-related fears while simultaneously co-existing with the national narrative of technological optimism, highlighting the urgent need for media literacy programmes and the development of balanced, locally produced AI stories.