To succeed in the modern world, adapting to technological change in our professional and private life is vital. However, individual attitudes toward new technologies vary widely, ranging from optimism regarding their benefits to concerns about their potential harm. Understanding this divergence in attitudes is critical for designing technologies that are not only effective but also widely accepted and integrated into daily life. We conducted a large-scale international study (N = 7000) investigating how socioeconomic factors and personal values influence optimism and pessimism toward technological change across seven countries representing diverse economic and cultural contexts (USA, UK, Germany, Japan, Italy, Brazil, South Africa). Each national sample was representative with regards to age and gender. Participants rated their expectations regarding the positive or negative impact of technological change over the coming years on various life domains. Additionally, participants completed the Individual Reflexive Value questionnaire (IRV), a scientifically validated measure of general personal values including hedonism, traditionalism, altruism, and career/status orientation. On average, participants from emerging economies (particularly Brazil and South Africa) exhibited significantly greater optimism regarding the potential benefits of technological change than those in more developed nations. Across countries, younger age, higher household income, and higher educational attainment predicted greater technology optimism. Importantly, personal value systems, particularly career/status orientation, were significantly stronger predictors of technology attitudes than socioeconomic factors or nationality. Model comparisons revealed that career orientation was the most robust predictor of technology optimism: individuals who placed greater importance on their career and status reported more optimistic views regarding the impact of technological change on both their personal lives and societal well-being. Our findings provide critical insights into how national and personal socioeconomic factors and values shape technology attitudes. Understanding the determinants of technology attitudes will help develop human-computer systems that address the needs and concerns of diverse global user populations.