Summary
- Gallup reports a decline in positive attitudes toward AI among Americans after two years of increasing acceptance.
- A majority now believe AI is more harmful than beneficial and foresee job losses in the U.S. due to automation.
- Trust in companies utilizing AI responsibly has diminished, particularly among younger demographics.
A recent report from Gallup reveals that American attitudes towards artificial intelligence have soured following a period of growing comfort with the technology.
The survey indicates that 70% of Americans now consider themselves somewhat or very knowledgeable about AI, an increase from 64% in 2024. However, this increased familiarity has coincided with a rise in skepticism. A greater number of individuals now believe AI does more harm than good, anticipate job reductions in the U.S. over the next ten years, and express lower confidence in businesses to use AI ethically.
Currently, 39% of Americans feel AI is more detrimental than beneficial, a rise from 31% in 2025. Only 9% assert that AI provides more benefits than drawbacks, while 52% believe it has an equal impact in both areas.
This skepticism is particularly pronounced among younger adults aged 18 to 29, nearly half of whom now assert that AI is more harmful than helpful, up from 36% last year. Gallup noted that this demographic has also grown increasingly doubtful regarding AI's overall influence, the ethical use of the technology by businesses, and its implications for employment.
Moreover, trust in businesses to use AI responsibly has decreased. Only 27% of Americans now express some level of trust in companies regarding AI use, down from 31% in 2025. Trust among 18 to 29-year-olds has plummeted from 30% to 20%, while those who have no trust at all rose from 29% to 41%.
Almost 80% of Americans believe AI will lead to job losses in the U.S. within the next decade, a rise from 73% in 2025 to 79% this year. The most significant increase was seen among adults aged 18 to 29, where the expectation of job losses surged from 62% to 75%. For those aged 45 to 59, the figure rose from 75% to 84%.
Gallup's findings also suggest that Americans increasingly perceive AI's performance to be comparable to that of humans in various tasks, such as driving and giving financial or medical advice. Despite this, respondents consistently rated human capabilities higher than AI across all categories assessed, which included hiring decisions, creative tasks, and assisting students with their studies.
This report aligns with other surveys indicating that Americans remain apprehensive about AI, even as its usage becomes more widespread. A March NBC News poll found that while 56% of Americans had recently engaged with AI tools like ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot, 57% felt the risks of the technology outweighed its advantages. Furthermore, a June survey by Anthropic revealed that job loss was the primary concern for the public across all states and political affiliations, with only 15% expressing trust in AI companies to govern the technology's development and application.