A recent poll conducted by The Washington Post, ABC News, and Ipsos between October 9 and 13, 2026, reveals that 57% of US adults view artificial intelligence as a negative influence on society. The survey, which included 2,545 participants, indicates that nearly one-third of respondents consider AI to be extremely or very harmful.
Regarding oversight, 67% of those surveyed believe the federal government is failing to regulate AI development sufficiently. This sentiment spans political affiliations: 80% of Democrats, 66% of independents, and 54% of Republicans expressed dissatisfaction with current government efforts. Additionally, 67% of respondents disapprove of the construction of new data centers in the country.
Other research supports these findings. A study by the Annenberg Public Policy Center from early 2026 found that 42% of respondents expect AI to have a negative impact over the next decade, while only 17% anticipate a positive one. Furthermore, 65% of participants in that study stated the government has done too little to regulate the technology.
Public demand for stricter rules remains high. Data from SurveyMonkey shows that 70% of participants view AI policy as a critical voting issue, with 74% supporting more rigorous regulation. Studies from Gallup and SurveyMonkey confirm that a majority of Americans favor safety measures, even if such rules potentially slow the pace of AI development.
