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AI leaves more Americans anxious than excited

Source reportMethodology

Overview

Anxiety outpolls excitement. 61% of U.S. adults agree they feel anxious about the rise of AI, while 48% agree they are excited about the possibilities it brings to their lives.

The rest of the battery tilts the same way. Majorities disagree that AI is having a positive impact on society (59%) and that they trust AI tools to be accurate (55%), and about seven in ten expect fewer job opportunities (72%).

Stacked breakdown

61% of U.S. adults agree they feel anxious about the rise of AI, while 48% agree they are excited about its possibilities.

- I feel anxious about the rise of AI

Strongly agree
21.2%
Somewhat agree
39.4%
Somewhat disagree
25.6%
Strongly disagree
13.8%

2026 · base n 1,690 · +/- 2.8%

AI Regulation

View source data

Anxiety is the majority mood

About six in ten U.S. adults (61%, combining 21% strongly and 39% somewhat) agree they feel anxious about the rise of AI. Just 14% strongly disagree.

Excitement splits the public almost evenly: 48% agree they are excited about the possibilities AI brings to their lives (12% strongly plus 35% somewhat), while 52% disagree (30% somewhat plus 23% strongly). The intensity is one-sided, with 23% strongly disagreeing, nearly double the 12% who strongly agree.

Topline

72% of U.S. adults agree AI will lead to fewer job opportunities and 72% agree it threatens human connection, while 59% disagree that AI is having a positive impact on society.

- AI will lead to fewer job opportunities in the future

  • Somewhat agree 41.5%
  • Strongly agree 30.7%
  • Somewhat disagree 20.7%
  • Strongly disagree 7.2%

2026 · base n 1,690 · +/- 2.8%

AI Regulation

View source data

Trust and perceived benefit lag

55% of adults disagree that they trust AI tools to give them accurate information (33% somewhat plus 22% strongly). Just 6% strongly agree that they trust AI to be accurate.

59% disagree that AI is having a positive impact on society overall (36% somewhat plus 24% strongly), while 7% strongly agree that it is.

Jobs and human connection drive the worry

About seven in ten adults (72%) agree that AI will lead to fewer job opportunities in the future, including 31% who strongly agree. Just 7% strongly disagree.

A similar share (72%) agrees that AI threatens human connection and authentic relationships, and a third (34%) strongly agree.

Methodology

Full methodology
Mode
Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
Population
US adults age 18+
Field dates
2026-06-18 → 2026-06-19
Base (unweighted)
1,690
Margin of error
+/- 2.8%
Module
AI Regulation
Sponsor
Verasight
Weight variable
weight
Weighting targets
age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

Sources

[6]
  • 01
    - I feel anxious about the rise of AIShows agreement with feeling anxious about the rise of AI.reports.verasight.io/reports/june-2026-ai-survey
  • 02
    - I’m excited about the possibilities AI brings to my lifeShows agreement with being excited about AI's possibilities.reports.verasight.io/reports/june-2026-ai-survey
  • 03
    - AI will lead to fewer job opportunities in the futureShows agreement that AI will lead to fewer job opportunities.reports.verasight.io/reports/june-2026-ai-survey
  • 04
    - I trust AI tools to give me accurate informationShows agreement with trusting AI tools to give accurate information.reports.verasight.io/reports/june-2026-ai-survey
  • 05
    - AI is having a positive impact on society overallShows agreement that AI is having a positive impact on society.reports.verasight.io/reports/june-2026-ai-survey
  • 06
    - AI threatens human connection and authentic relationshipsShows agreement that AI threatens human connection and relationships.reports.verasight.io/reports/june-2026-ai-survey

Citation

What do Americans from both parties agree on? AI Regulation, fielded June 18-19, 2026, N=1,690 US adults age 18+, +/- 2.8%.

https://reports.verasight.io/reports/june-2026-ai-survey#i-feel-anxious-about-the-rise-of-ai

Verasight survey methodology

How Verasight conducts surveys.

This page describes the Verasight general survey contract, separate from how the Data Library packages it. Each wave's specific field dates, sample sizes, and module breakdown are listed in that wave's report.

Mode
Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting.
Population
US adults age 18+.
Sample design
Surveys are run as omnibus or single-topic waves. Omnibus waves are split into modules with their own respondent set, typically around one thousand respondents per module.
Field window
Each wave specifies its own field dates. Most omnibus waves field across roughly two weeks.
Weighting
Per-module weighting to CPS targets including age, race and ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, and metropolitan status.
Partisanship benchmark
Pew Research Center's NPORS benchmarking surveys, three-year running average.
Vote benchmark
2024 presidential vote population benchmarks.
Margin of error
Typically about plus or minus 3.4 to 3.6 percent per module at standard module sizes. Question-level MoE is recomputed when a base shrinks materially below the module baseline.
Reporting
Every wave is published as a standalone report at verasight.io/reports with full instrument and methodology.
Transparency
Verasight is a member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research Transparency Initiative.

Wave-specific methodology, full weighting variable lists, and verbatim instrument text live in each report at verasight.io/reports.