A growing majority of Americans believe artificial intelligence is evolving faster than society can safely manage, according to a new survey.
The findings show that 71% of respondents feel AI development is moving too quickly, reflecting increasing public concern over the technology's rapid expansion.
The survey suggests that unease is not only about AI itself but also about whether governments, regulators, and businesses can keep pace with its accelerating development.
Americans Show More Skepticism Than Optimism Toward AI
According to new data from The Economist and a recent YouGov poll, Americans are now evidently more skeptical than optimistic about AI.
Researchers found that there are roughly twice as many AI pessimists as optimists across political groups, suggesting that concerns are broadly shared rather than politically driven.
Additional findings from Quinnipiac University support this trend, with 51% of Americans stating that AI is advancing faster than they expected.
Job Security Becomes a Major Concern
TechRadar noted that, based on the survey, one of the strongest concerns highlighted in the data involves employment and job security. Many respondents fear that AI could replace human workers, particularly in entry-level positions and small business roles.
Around 64% of participants believe AI will not distribute benefits equally, while only 8% think widespread benefits are very likely.
Earlier research also found that 63% of Americans expect AI to reduce overall job availability in the future.
Lower-income households appear especially concerned, with more than half expressing fears of job displacement due to automation and AI-driven systems.
Trust in Institutions Remains Low
The survey also mentions the trust gap between the public and institutions overseeing AI development.
About 76% of respondents believe technology companies are not transparent enough about their use of artificial intelligence, while 74% say the government is not doing enough to regulate it effectively.
Experts note that these findings suggest Americans are not necessarily rejecting AI outright, but are instead expressing concern about how it is being deployed and governed.
Environmental and Infrastructure Concerns Emerge
Beyond jobs and regulation, the report also points to growing opposition to AI infrastructure projects such as data centers.
Concerns include high energy consumption, water usage, and environmental impact, which are becoming increasingly relevant as AI systems scale globally.
Originally published on Tech Times
