- 71% of Americans say AI is evolving too fast, 51% say it’s faster than they expected.
- Low-wage workers are at risk, while top earners and tech giants will benefit
- ‘AI hate wave’ surging as communities fight back
New Economist data drawn from a recent YouGov survey has revealed that nearly three in four (71%) Americans feel that AI development is happening too quickly.
The report found that American citizens are not only concerned about AI itself, but also about whether governments, regulators, and society at large can realistically keep pace with the rapid pace of innovation.
In fact, there are twice as many “AI pessimists” as “AI optimists” in the United States, and the sentiment is reflected across political beliefs, indicating skepticism about the technology and its impacts, rather than how specific governments are responding to regulation.
US citizens are not comfortable with the pace of AI innovation
Research from Quinnipiac University also found that a high share of Americans (51%) say the pace of AI development is advancing faster than they expected.
Concerns span a wide range of technology impacts, with citizens concerned about economic disruption, misinformation, privacy, social impacts, and job displacement.
Data indicates that concern centers on the idea that AI may be better for big tech companies and highly skilled workers, disproportionately affecting SMEs and entry-level workers. As many as two in three (64%) believe AI will not benefit everyone, compared to 8% who believe it is “very likely” to do so.
This reflects previous Economist/YouGov data revealing that around two-thirds (63%) of Americans believe AI would reduce the number of jobs available in the future. Back then, only 35% trusted artificial intelligence.
More than half (55%) of families surveyed with a combined income of $50,000 or less said they are somewhat or very concerned about AI replacing their jobs.
In the workplace, four out of five would also not be willing to work in a position in which an AI agent is their direct “boss.”
Regulation is not keeping pace
The Quinnipiac study also found that 76% of American citizens do not feel that companies are doing enough to be transparent about AI, while a similar number (74%) feel that the government should do more to regulate the use of AI.
“Americans are not outright rejecting AI, but they are sending a warning,” wrote Tamilla Triantoro, associate professor of business analytics and information systems. “Too much uncertainty, too little trust, too little regulation and too much fear about employment.”
Separately, axios revealed an emerging ‘wave of AI hate’ driven by the same fears: job losses, concentration of wealth and environmental concerns. In addition to national concerns, local opposition has been growing among communities near data center projects, particularly due to high water use, energy demand and local infrastructure pressures, all of which lead to higher utility bills.
President Trump previously responded to this, urging tech giants to “pay their own way” so that American citizens don’t have to “foot the bill.”
Ultimately, these findings suggest that America’s growing unease with AI is not due to fear of the technology, but rather the correlation between innovation and regulation.
Looking ahead, capacity and performance are no longer the issue. Instead, companies must invest to earn trust, even at the cost of innovation, while governments face demands to regulate socioeconomic impacts.
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