Many Americans pessimistic about AI’s impact—and want more regulation

by Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania

edited by Gaby Clark, reviewed by Andrew Zinin
Editors’ notes
The GIST
Add as preferred source
IOD National Survey, Feb.-March 2026. N = 1,330, MOE = +/- 3.49. Credit: The Annenberg Public Policy Center
As debate intensifies over data center construction and how to regulate artificial intelligence (AI), a new nationally representative survey finds that Americans are broadly pessimistic about the impact of AI and want more government action to regulate the technology.

The survey, conducted by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania, finds that only 17% of Americans believe AI will have a positive impact on the United States over the next decade, while 42% expect its effects to be negative. Nearly two-thirds (65%) say the government has done “too little” to regulate AI—a view by majorities of Democrats, independents, and Republicans alike.