Technology, AI, and Regulation: What Americans Think
Report summary
Between February 22 and March 1, 2026 a demographically balanced group of 1005 Americans were asked for their opinions about technology, with a focus on AI. The survey examines the benefits and harms of major technologies, concerns about AI-related job loss, trust in companies, employers, and the government to use AI responsibly, preferences for AI regulation and policy response, and factors that may impact future technology regulation. Geographical differences in opinion within the US were examined.
Key takeaways
- Most American adults (64%) believe that society does not have enough control over the adoption and use of technology. This majority holds regardless of educational attainment level or political affiliation.
- Most Americans see computers, smartphones, television, and the automobile as beneficial for society, but see AI and social media as more harmful than beneficial. Members of older generations (Generation X, Boomers, Silent) are generally more positive about these technologies than members of younger generations (Generation Z, Millennials). People without a bachelor’s degree are more likely than people with a bachelor’s degree or higher to see AI as mostly or entirely harmful, and Republicans see AI as more beneficial and less harmful than independents and Democrats do. A higher proportion of people in the Far West, and Mid-Atlantic see AI as harmful than people in other parts of the US.
- 62% of Americans have little or no trust in companies to develop and use AI responsibly. Trust is highest in the Southeast and lowest in the Mid-Atlantic. 58% of employed Americans have at least a moderate amount of trust in their employer to do so and employer trust is greater in many fields with high potential AI exposure than it is in many fields with low potential AI exposure.
- 37% of employed Americans are somewhat or very concerned that they could lose their job because of AI, and 72% of Americans are somewhat or very concerned that AI could lead to high unemployment for others. Women, Democrats, and members of younger generations (Millennials / Generation Z), and people in careers with higher theoretical / observed AI coverage have elevated levels of concern. Concern is highest in the Mid-Atlantic and lowest in the Southeast and Central Plains.
- 62% of Americans are somewhat or very concerned that AI could be used to control the people, 44% are somewhat or very concerned that AI could turn against humans, and 49% are somewhat or very concerned that AI could make life less meaningful.
- Among employed Americans, 44% would blame technology companies for not being more responsible with AI if they lost their job due to AI. Smaller percentages would blame politicians for not regulating AI better (39%), blame their employer (34%), blame themselves for not being better prepared for the future (30%), or blame no one (23%). The highest proportion who would blame technology companies is in the Central Plains, and the highest proportion who would blame politicians is in the Northeast.
- Most employed Americans (81%) are somewhat or very willing to switch to a new type of work if AI makes jobs in their field less available. Women, Baby Boomers / members of the Silent Generation, and members of Generation Z are less willing to switch than men, Millennials, and members of Generation X. The percentage of people who are somewhat or very willing to switch is highest in the Interior West and lowest in the Northeast and Upland South.
- 64% of Americans think that there is too little regulation of AI by the government, but the majority (75%) have little or no trust in the government’s ability to do so. The Interior West has the highest proportion of people who think there should be more government regulation of AI, and the Southeast and Upland South have the lowest proportion. A higher percentage of people in the Southeast have a lot or a great deal of trust in the government to regulate AI than in other parts of the US. A large majority of Americans (79%) think that state governments should be allowed to regulate AI. Support of state regulation of AI is particularly strong in the Northeast and Southeast and is weakest in the Midwest.
- 54% of Americans would be much more likely or somewhat more likely to support a political candidate who proposes slowing or pausing AI development so that its social or economic impact could be evaluated. The highest proportions of people who would support a political candidate who proposes this are found in the Mid-Atlantic and the Far West. Only 16% of Americans would be somewhat or much less likely to support a candidate who proposes slowing or pausing AI development.
- Most Americans (64%) strongly or somewhat support implementing an AI token tax to support people who lose their jobs due to AI pay bills and get training for new jobs. The proportion of people who support this tax is highest in the Interior West. A smaller percentage (49%) would support a token tax if the proceeds were distributed to all Americans regardless of whether they lost their job due to AI. Support for a tax to be used in this way is strongest in the Mid-Atlantic and Upland South.
- Americans of all generations and across all demographic groups examined think the best year to be alive for themselves and for the average American was in the past rather than in the future. People who identify as being part of the Make America Great Again movement were more likely to select years before 1970 than the average American, but the majority of MAGA identifiers selected dates after 1970 and a wide range of years were given. The percentage of people who think the best year for themselves to be alive will be in the future is highest in the Central Plains and lowest in the Southeast, Northeast, and Midwest.
- Only 25% of Americans think that technological advances like AI will make obtaining a college education somewhat or much more important, compared to 44% who think it will make getting a college degree somewhat or much less important. The percentage of people who think technological advances will make obtaining a college education somewhat or much less important is highest in the Central Plains and lowest in the Southeast.