Key facts
- Nearly 40% of Americans believe AI does more harm than good.
- Over 70% of Americans have little to no faith in businesses using AI responsibly.
- A Pew study found over 70% of U.S. adults believe AI will lead to fewer jobs in the next two decades.
- Employment of workers aged 22-25 in jobs most exposed to AI was 19% lower than in jobs less exposed, according to a Stanford University study.
- Candidates are responding to voter concerns about AI's impact on the economy, job prospects, and corporate power.
Americans' views on artificial intelligence have shifted negatively, creating a significant political issue for the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. While AI companies have seen substantial growth and political influence, public sentiment has soured due to concerns about job losses, the environmental costs of data centers, and the use of AI in surveillance.
A joint survey by Bentley University and Gallup found that close to 40 percent of Americans believe AI does more harm than good, with over 70 percent expressing little to no faith in businesses to use the technology responsibly. This growing gap between public perception and the views of political and industry leaders positions AI as a potential deciding factor in election outcomes.
Concerns about job displacement are particularly prevalent, with a Pew study indicating that over 70 percent of U.S. adults anticipate fewer jobs due to AI in the next two decades. This fear is supported by a Stanford University study showing that employment for younger workers (ages 22-25) in AI-exposed fields was 19 percent lower than in less exposed professions. Despite these anxieties, companies like Salesforce and Anthropic are implementing initiatives to ensure young people benefit from AI's economic potential, and proposals such as a sovereign wealth fund to distribute AI profits to citizens are being considered by lawmakers.