Americans Anxious About AI Job Displacement Yet Optimistic for Medical Advances: Anthropic Survey

Public Sentiment on AI: Optimism in Healthcare, Concern for Jobs

A recent survey by Anthropic, the company behind the AI model Claude, highlights a divided sentiment among Americans regarding artificial intelligence. While nearly half of respondents express optimism that AI could aid in curing diseases, job displacement remains a significant concern.

The "Public Record" survey, which gathered opinions from around 52,000 Americans in late 2025, indicates that 64% of participants fear losing their jobs due to AI advancements. This anxiety cuts across political affiliations and educational backgrounds, with those holding higher degrees particularly worried about the impact of AI on their employment.

On a brighter note, 49% of those surveyed hope AI will contribute to medical breakthroughs, such as treating conditions like cancer and Alzheimer’s. Meanwhile, 36% are optimistic about AI assisting people with disabilities. However, the idea of AI replacing human interaction, such as in therapy sessions, received the least support.

Despite the hope for AI's potential in healthcare, public trust in AI companies is alarmingly low. Only 15% of respondents trust these firms to make responsible decisions about AI development, a figure that falls below trust levels in various government entities and international organizations. In contrast, independent experts enjoy a higher trust rate at 43%.

There is a notable bipartisan agreement on the necessity for government regulation of AI, with over 70% of Americans supporting oversight. This includes 79% of Democrats and 68% of Republicans, emphasizing the importance of issues like privacy, child safety, and corporate accountability.

Anthropic plans to continue conducting this survey regularly, expanding its focus beyond the U.S. in the future.