Growing Skepticism Among Americans Regarding AI, Says Gallup

Declining Trust in AI Among Americans

A recent Gallup survey highlights a growing skepticism among Americans regarding artificial intelligence (AI), marking a notable shift from the previous two years of increasing acceptance.

Key Findings from the Survey

• 70% of Americans now consider themselves knowledgeable about AI, up from 64% in 2024.
• 39% believe AI is more harmful than beneficial, an increase from 31% in 2025.
• 80% anticipate job losses in the U.S. due to AI advancements within the next decade.

The survey reveals that while familiarity with AI has increased, it has not translated into trust. A significant number of respondents, particularly younger individuals aged 18 to 29, feel that AI poses more risks than rewards. Nearly half of this demographic views AI as more harmful, a rise from 36% last year.

Confidence in businesses to utilize AI responsibly has also waned. Currently, only 27% of Americans express trust in companies employing AI, down from 31% in 2025. Trust among younger adults has seen a sharper decline, dropping from 30% to 20%. Meanwhile, those who express no trust at all have increased from 29% to 41%.

Concerns about job security are prevalent, with 79% of Americans fearing that AI will lead to job losses in the next ten years. This concern is particularly acute among younger adults, where expectations of job reductions rose significantly from 62% to 75% over the past year.

Despite recognizing AI's capabilities in various tasks, respondents maintain that human performance is superior. This sentiment is echoed in other surveys, such as a March NBC News poll, where 57% of Americans felt that the risks of AI outweigh its benefits. A June survey by Anthropic also indicated that job loss remains a primary concern across the political spectrum, with only 15% trusting AI companies to manage the technology responsibly.