A recent poll by ABC News, The Washington Post, and Ipsos reveals that 57% of American adults believe artificial intelligence does more harm than good for society. While 50% of respondents acknowledge personal benefits from AI, 49% perceive it as personally harmful, with those viewing it as extremely harmful outnumbering those who see it as extremely beneficial by five to one.
Public concern regarding AI risks is widespread. Specifically, 73% of respondents fear AI could facilitate cyberattacks, 65% worry about significant job losses, and 62% fear a loss of independent decision-making. Furthermore, 33% of those surveyed believe AI poses a high risk of human extinction. Confidence in the government's current regulatory approach is low, with two-thirds of Americans stating that federal oversight is insufficient.
Infrastructure expansion faces significant local opposition. While 66% of Americans oppose the construction of new data centers nationwide, that figure rises to 72% when the facilities are proposed for their own communities. This resistance spans political lines, with 81% of Democrats, 76% of independents, and 58% of Republicans opposing local data center development.
The survey, conducted between October 9 and October 13, 2026, involved 2,545 American adults. It highlights a disconnect between the rapid scaling of AI infrastructure by tech companies and public sentiment. Residents in rural areas show the highest level of opposition to local data centers at 78%, followed by suburban residents at 72% and urban residents at 69%.
