AI leaves more Americans anxious than excited
Core finding
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%).
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.
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.
n = 1,690 · Jun 18–19, 2026 · MoE ±2.8%
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.
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.
n = 1,690 · Jun 18–19, 2026 · MoE ±2.8%
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 | Jun 18–19, 2026 |
| 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
- reports.verasight.io/r/june-2026-ai-survey
- I feel anxious about the rise of AI
Cite this topic
What do Americans from both parties agree on? AI Regulation, fielded June 18-19, 2026, N=1,690 US adults age 18+, +/- 2.8%.