A new Reuters/Ipsos poll has unveiled profound and widespread anxiety among Americans regarding the rapid ascent of artificial intelligence. The data paints a picture of a public deeply concerned about the technology’s potential to trigger permanent job displacement, foment political instability, and introduce new ethical dilemmas in warfare and energy consumption.
The core finding is stark: 71% of respondents expressed concern that AI will be “putting too many people out of work permanently”. This fear persists even amidst a relatively strong labor market, suggesting a underlying worry that this technological shift is fundamentally different. The specter of AI’s disruptive power entered the national conversation in late 2022 with the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which was quickly followed by a flurry of AI products from tech giants like Meta, Google, and Microsoft.
Political and Social Chaos Emerges as Top Concern
Beyond the economic impact, the poll identified an even larger fear: the weaponization of AI for political purposes. A striking 77% of Americans worry that the technology could be used by rivals to incite political chaos. This apprehension is fueled by the now-common ability of AI to generate highly realistic videos of imaginary events, known as deepfakes. A recent example involved former President Donald Trump posting an AI-generated video depicting the arrest of Barack Obama, an event that never occurred 1. This ease of fabricating convincing footage has heightened fears about its potential to mislead the public and destabilize democracy.
The survey also revealed significant ethical reservations about deploying AI in life-and-death scenarios. When it comes to military applications, 48% of respondents stated the government should never use AI to determine the target of a military strike. Only 24% supported such use, while 28% remained unsure. This public unease contrasts with ongoing military investments in AI capabilities by global powers like the U.S. and China.
The Hidden Environmental Cost of AI
A less discussed but equally pressing concern is AI’s massive appetite for energy. The poll found that 61% of Americans are concerned about the amount of electricity required to power the fast-growing technology. This is not an abstract worry; tech companies are already taking action. Google recently signed agreements with U.S. electric utilities to reduce power consumption at its AI data centers during periods of peak grid demand, a direct response to the fact that energy-intensive AI use is beginning to outpace power supplies.
Daniel Colson, Executive Director of the Artificial Intelligence Policy Institute (AIPI), notes that public concern intensifies upon direct exposure to AI’s capabilities. His organization’s research found that worry about job displacement jumped 14% after people listened to an AI-generated song, with nearly half admitting the technology was more advanced than they had realized. “The more information voters have about AI’s capabilities, the more they are worried about it,” Colson observed.
The Reuters/Ipsos poll, which gathered responses from 4,446 U.S. adults, provides a comprehensive snapshot of a nation grappling with the double-edged sword of artificial intelligence. While the technology promises innovation and efficiency, the public is clearly signaling a desire for caution, oversight, and a thoughtful conversation about how to integrate it into society without sacrificing jobs, truth, or safety. The data suggests that for AI to gain broad public trust, its developers and regulators must directly address these profound and valid concerns.
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