Survey Finds Rising Concerns on AI Jobs and Energy Costs

A wave of recent polling data reveals that a growing majority of Americans view artificial intelligence with deep skepticism, fearing widespread job losses and rising energy costs even as technology companies pour trillions of dollars into AI development. The findings, drawn from multiple surveys conducted in mid-2026, paint a stark picture of public unease that cuts across age groups and political affiliations.

According to a Pew Research Center survey of 3,488 U.S. adults conducted from June 22 to June 28, 2026, 52 percent of Americans now say they are more concerned than excited about AI's increasing presence in daily life, up from 37 percent in 2021. Only 9 percent said they were more excited than concerned, while 37 percent reported feeling equally both ways. Among adults under 30, 55 percent expressed concern, marking the first time that age group crossed the majority threshold on this question. That figure represents a 24-point increase from 2021, when just 31 percent of young adults said they were more concerned than excited.

A separate IITIPP poll of 1,463 adults, conducted from July 28 through August 1, found similar sentiment on specific AI impacts. When asked whether...