Capital and computing power are pouring wildly into AI, but the public has not widely embraced it. The next challenge for companies is no longer just stacking chips and training models—they must prove that AI delivers real benefits to ordinary people while mitigating its side effects on employment, energy consumption, and community costs.Author and source: AIBase
A poll conducted by ABC News, The Washington Post, and Ipsos shows that a majority of U.S. adults hold negative views toward artificial intelligence. The survey, conducted from October 9 to 13 and involving 2,545 respondents with a margin of error of approximately ±2%, paints a largely pessimistic picture: 57% of respondents believe AI does more harm than good to society, while only 42% see it as beneficial; 17% consider it "extremely harmful," compared to just 2% who view it as "extremely beneficial."
Attitudes diverge significantly by age and political party. Among those under 30, 65% believe AI is harmful, dropping to 53% among those over 40; among Democratic supporters, this figure reaches 63%, while Republicans are more divided, with 51% viewing AI as beneficial. Intriguingly, when the question shifts from "society" to "myself," the conclusion reverses subtly—50% believe AI is beneficial to individuals, while 49% see it as harmful. In other words, many people worry about its broader societal impact yet still rely on its practical value.
Data and employment remain the biggest concerns.
Among specific risks, 73% are concerned that AI could fuel cyberattacks against security systems, 65% fear widespread job losses, 62% worry about humans gradually losing their ability to make independent decisions, and 33% even view AI as a high risk to human extinction. In contrast, expectations of benefits are relatively restrained: only 13% believe AI will create many new jobs, while 52% think this is nearly impossible.
This distrust also extends to physical infrastructure. Sixty-six percent oppose the construction of new data centers nationwide; if built in their own communities, opposition rises to 72%, and reaches 78% in rural areas. About two-thirds feel federal regulation is insufficient, 66% disapprove of Trump’s handling of AI, and 49% trust neither political party.
The core contradiction is becoming clear: capital and computing power are flooding into AI, yet the public has not widely embraced it. The next challenge for companies is no longer just stacking chips and training models—they must prove that AI delivers tangible benefits to ordinary people while mitigating its side effects on employment, energy consumption, and community costs.