Poll Reveals Majority of Americans View AI Negatively and Demand Regulation

A new poll conducted by Washington Post, ABC News, and Ipsos has revealed that 57% of U.S. adults believe artificial intelligence (AI) has a negative impact on society. Additionally, 67% of respondents feel that the federal government is not doing enough to regulate the development of this technology.

The survey, which took place from October 9-13, 2026, included responses from 2,545 adults across the country. Among the findings, nearly one-third of participants described AI as either "extremely" or "very" harmful. The demand for regulation appears to transcend political affiliations, with 80% of Democrats, 66% of Independents, and 54% of Republicans expressing concern over the government's oversight of AI.

Further emphasizing the public's apprehension, two-thirds of Americans disapprove of the establishment of new data centers in the U.S. A previous survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center indicated that only 17% of respondents expected a positive impact from AI over the next decade, while 42% anticipated negative consequences. The sentiment for stricter regulations is echoed in a SurveyMonkey study, which found that 70% of participants consider AI policy a critical voting issue.

Concerns surrounding AI primarily revolve around job loss, safety, and the rapid pace of technological advancement. The 2026 polling also highlighted dissatisfaction with President Trump's handling of AI, with 67% of respondents disapproving of his approach.

New Insights on AI's Impact on Employment

Goldman Sachs estimates that artificial intelligence could temporarily displace about 9% of US workers, equating to up to 15 million people over the next decade, assuming a 15% boost in productivity.

This projection marks an increase from their previous estimate of 6% to 7% displacement. The research indicates that AI is already affecting job growth, with approximately 10,000 to 15,000 jobs per month being eliminated in sectors like technology and management consulting.

Goldman forecasts that the US unemployment rate could rise by as much as 0.6 percentage points due to AI adoption, although they expect this increase to stabilize within a few years as the labor market adjusts.

Historically, around 85% of US job growth has stemmed from new occupations created by technological advancements, and Goldman anticipates a similar trend with generative AI.