Key Highlights

  • The share of Americans who believe AI does more harm than good has risen from 31% in 2025 to 39% in 2026, according to a joint university and polling organization survey
  • More than 70% of Americans oppose the construction of AI data centers in their local area, with nearly half strongly opposed, according to a separate survey
  • Distrust spans the political spectrum, with concerns raised by figures on both the political right and left about the technology's societal effects
  • The current US administration has signaled it will resist heavier regulation of the AI sector, citing concerns about falling behind China in the global AI race

Distrust of AI Rises Across Age Groups and Political Affiliations

The share of Americans who believe AI does more harm than good has climbed from 31% in 2025 to 39% in 2026, according to a joint survey conducted by a university and a major polling organization, nearly matching a previous high recorded in 2023. The increase has been especially pronounced among younger adults, with nearly half of those aged 18 to 29 now saying AI does more harm than good, up sharply from the previous year. Trust in businesses to use AI responsibly has also declined, with roughly a quarter of Americans expressing at least some trust in companies, down from nearly a third the previous year.

Separate polling found more than 70% of Americans oppose the construction of AI data centers in their local area, with nearly half strongly opposed, citing concerns over resource use, environmental effects and local quality of life. Other surveys have found that a large majority of Americans distrust AI for use in areas such as driving, medical advice and corporate hiring decisions, with widespread distrust extending to executives at major AI companies as well.

Concerns Span the Political Spectrum

Unlike many technology debates, skepticism toward AI does not fall neatly along partisan lines. Concerns have been raised by figures across the political spectrum, from those aligned with the current administration who describe AI infrastructure in alarmist terms, to progressive voices warning about AI's implications for democracy and civil liberties. Job displacement remains a leading concern, with nearly 8 in 10 Americans surveyed saying they expect AI to reduce the number of jobs available over the next decade, a concern that has intensified as companies have increasingly cited AI in layoff announcements.

Industry leaders have themselves contributed to public anxiety through public statements warning about the technology's risks, even as they simultaneously promote its potential benefits. Companies performing strongly in the AI sector have generally favored greater regulation and closed model architectures, while companies facing more competitive pressure have shown greater support for open-weight models and lighter-touch oversight.

Administration Resists Calls for Heavier Regulation

The current US administration has signaled it will resist heavier federal regulation of the AI sector, with officials framing regulatory caution as necessary to maintain America's competitive position relative to China in the global race for AI capability. Technology companies have also spent heavily on political advocacy aimed at shaping AI policy, with one pro-AI political action network reporting tens of millions of dollars in spending this year aimed at building support among lawmakers for a lighter regulatory approach.

The gap between public sentiment and current policy direction has created an unusual dynamic in American politics, where a policy area with rare bipartisan public concern has not yet translated into a comparable shift in the federal regulatory approach. Some policy analysts argue that greater public-private cooperation on AI safety standards, along with efforts to address the technology's economic effects on workers, would be necessary steps to address the underlying public concerns.