Key facts
- 64% of Americans fear job displacement due to AI.
- Nearly 50% of respondents wish for AI to cure diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's.
- Only 15% of Americans trust AI companies to make decisions about AI development.
- Over 70% of Americans support government regulation of AI.
- Privacy, child safety, and corporate liability were key areas for regulation.
A comprehensive survey by AI firm Anthropic reveals a stark dichotomy in American public opinion regarding artificial intelligence. While a significant majority, 64%, express anxiety about AI-driven job losses—a concern prevalent across all political affiliations, education levels, and states—nearly half of respondents also hold out hope for AI to deliver cures for diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's.
The "Public Record" poll, which surveyed nearly 52,000 Americans in late 2025, highlighted a profound lack of trust in the companies developing AI. Only 15% of Americans indicated trust in AI firms to make decisions about the technology's development and use, a figure lower than that for the federal government and far below the trust placed in independent experts.
Conversely, support for government oversight of AI is widespread and bipartisan. Over 70% of those surveyed believe the government should regulate AI, with Democrats showing 79% support and Republicans at 68%. The public's primary concerns for regulation center on privacy, child safety, and corporate liability for any harm caused by AI systems.
While hopes for AI's potential to cure diseases and assist individuals with disabilities (36%) were significant, aspirations for AI to substitute for human connection, such as offering therapy or reducing loneliness, ranked lowest among the surveyed potential benefits.