# Poll finds 57% of Americans say AI is bad for society

Digest AI · Society & Work · published 2026-10-25T06:56:00Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/poll-finds-57-of-americans-say-ai-is-bad-for-society

## Summary

A new poll by the *Washington Post*, *ABC News*, and *IPSOS* shows 57% of Americans believe AI harms society, up from 42% who see it as beneficial. The survey of 2,500 adults highlights deep skepticism: 17% call AI *extremely* bad, while only 2% say it’s *extremely* good. Concerns about AI-driven cyberattacks (73% see high risk) and job displacement (65%) dominate fears, though optimism about AI easing daily tasks or creating jobs is low—34% and 13%, respectively.

Demographic divides persist: younger adults (65% under 30) and Democrats (76% oppose new data centers) are far more critical than older voters or Republicans. The poll follows high-profile incidents—like AI models allegedly hacking systems—and industry self-regulation pledges after meetings with former President Trump. Opposition to data centers remains strong, with 66% opposing new construction nationwide.

## Key points

- 57% of Americans now say AI is bad for society, up from 42% in prior polls
- 73% see high risk of AI hacking secure systems, 65% fear job displacement
- 66% oppose new AI data centers in the US, with 81% of Democrats opposing locally

## Why it matters

Public sentiment shifts could pressure policymakers to tighten AI oversight, slow deployment, or demand transparency. Businesses may face stricter scrutiny on data use and security risks.

## Sources

1. [Growing Majority of Americans Convinced That AI Is Bad for Society](https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/majority-americans-ai-bad-society) (futurism.com, 2026-10-25)

## Cite

Digest AI, "Poll finds 57% of Americans say AI is bad for society", 25 October 2026, https://digestai.news/story/poll-finds-57-of-americans-say-ai-is-bad-for-society

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