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Key findings
The survey, by the Annenberg Public Policy Center’s Institutions of Democracy division, was conducted among a nationally representative sample of 1,330 U.S. adult citizens from Feb. 17–March 20, 2026. The survey finds that:
Many Americans are pessimistic about AI’s future impact: Only 17% say the impact of AI on the United States over the next 10 years will be somewhat or very positive, compared with 42% who say it will be somewhat or very negative.
A bipartisan majority says the government has done too little to regulate AI: Nearly two-thirds (65%) say the government has done “too little,” including 77% of Democrats, 72% of independents, and 53% of Republicans.
Medical research is a bright spot: Over half (57%) expect AI to have a somewhat or very positive impact on medical research and discoveries.
Building new data centers is unpopular: Nearly half of Americans (49%) oppose construction of new data centers in their area, while just 1 in 5 (21%) support it.
“These results tell a clear story: Americans are paying attention to AI—nearly 8 in 10 say they’ve heard at least a moderate amount about it—and what they see concerns them,” said Shawn Patterson Jr., a research analyst at APPC. “The demand for regulation is not a partisan issue. Majorities across the political spectrum say the government has done too little.”
IOD National Survey, Feb.-March 2026. N = 1,330, MOE = +/- 3.49. Credit: Annenberg Public Policy Center
Americans are broadly pessimistic about AI’s impact
Despite widespread awareness of artificial intelligence—78% say they have heard at least a moderate amount about it and 67% report using AI at least a few times in the past month—the public outlook on AI’s trajectory is negative. When respondents are asked what they think the impact of AI on the United States will be over the next 10 years, only 7% say “very positive” and 11% say “somewhat positive.” In contrast, 22% say the impact will be “very negative” and 20% say “somewhat negative.” About a third (32%) say the impact will be equally positive and negative.
Medical research stands out; other domains provoke concern
When asked about AI’s expected impact across seven specific domains, Americans see one clear area of promise: medical research and discoveries, where over half (57%) expect a positive impact. But optimism drops sharply elsewhere. Only 24% expect AI to have a positive impact on government effectiveness, 22% on creative arts, and 19% on the economy. The most pessimistic assessments are reserved for mental health and well-being (17% positive), household utility costs (14% positive), and U.S.-China relations (5% positive).