@evileddy argues that what makes AI AI is sentience and self awareness. A learning algorithm is not AI. Maybe that is just a science fiction classification of AI and the fear would come from Skynet/Irobot mania?
I can see AI demonized like GMOs, MSG and peanuts. Plants that are modified to resist disease, produce more and contain more nutrients have become alien experiments in some people's minds. Mono sodium Glutemate is only bad for you when you are allergic to it and peanutbutter is the same with the allergin created as a byproduct of the processing and not the nut.
That is loose science I know but all of those things are unjustly painted with the same brush and I hope learning algorithms don't get demonized because we are Terminator fans.