Americans Turn Against AI in Polls as 70% Say It Is Moving Too Fast
Updated
Updated · The National Desk · May 18
Americans Turn Against AI in Polls as 70% Say It Is Moving Too Fast
5 articles · Updated · The National Desk · May 18
Separate polls found broad U.S. pessimism about AI’s effect on humanity and significant opposition to new data centers that power the technology.
70% of Americans said AI is advancing too quickly, more than half held negative views, and youth optimism was especially weak in earlier polling.
That backlash has spilled into public events: Google’s CEO was booed when AI came up in a college commencement speech, echoing a similar reaction to Eric Schmidt.
Job-market disruption has been a central driver of the skepticism, while resistance to data-center construction points to widening opposition to the infrastructure behind AI growth.
Is mastering critical thinking the ultimate shield against AI, or just a temporary fix for a massive job market disruption?
With AI's energy use sparking local outrage, can its environmental crisis be solved before public opposition stalls its growth?
As AI companions raise a generation, are we trading children's real social skills for the illusion of digital friendship?
From Optimism to Anxiety: How 80% of Americans Now Worry About AI’s Impact and Demand Regulation
Overview
By mid-2026, public sentiment in the United States has shifted sharply, with rising skepticism and anxiety toward artificial intelligence, especially among Gen Z. Once optimistic, young people now express less excitement and more anger, driven by concerns about AI's impact on their cognitive abilities and job prospects. This growing distrust is fueled by the rapid pace of AI development, which outpaces society's ability to understand or govern it. As a result, there is a strong demand for regulation and clear governance, reflecting widespread uncertainty about AI's role in the future and its effects on both individuals and society.