# Americans want policymakers to focus on AI

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/ai/americans-want-policymakers-to-focus-on-ai/
Published: 2026-07-13

> Featured topic in AI & Tech.

Given seven policy ideas, just 8.7% of U.S. adults would ask state or federal policymakers to do nothing about AI; the most-selected idea, at 39.9%, is taxing AI companies and data centers to fund a dividend paid to all Americans.

## Overview: Demand for AI policy

Given seven policy ideas on AI, just 8.7% of adults would ask state or federal policymakers to do nothing. The most-selected ask is taxing AI companies and data centers to fund a dividend paid to all Americans, at 39.9%.

The issue also sits in view. About two-thirds of adults (67.8%) saw AI-related news at least weekly in the past month, and 53.9% are worried about the health effects of AI data centers.

## Few would ask policymakers to do nothing

Asked to check any of seven policy or regulatory ideas they would ask state or federal policymakers to adopt on AI, just 8.7% of adults chose doing nothing.

The most-selected idea is taxing AI companies and data centers and redistributing the revenue as a dividend to all Americans, at 39.9%. Free retraining programs for workers (37.3%), easier access to unemployment benefits (36.3%) and removing tax breaks for data centers (35.9%) follow closely.

## Data-center health worries run through the demand

More than half of adults (53.9%) are worried or very worried about the health effects of AI data centers.

Just 12.8% are not worried, and another 10.6% say they are not aware of the health effects of AI data centers.

## AI news is hard to avoid

About two-thirds of adults (67.8%) saw news related to artificial intelligence at least weekly in the past month, including 22.9% who saw it multiple times a day.

Just 12.0% saw no AI-related news at all in the past month.

## Supporting evidence

### 39.9% would ask policymakers to tax AI companies and data centers to fund a dividend paid to all Americans; just 8.7% would ask them to do nothing.

Question: Among the following policy or regulatory ideas below, check all of the following that you would ask your state or federal policymakers to adopt to address AI

Note: Shows which AI policy ideas adults would ask policymakers to adopt; 8.7% chose doing nothing, and the tax-and-dividend idea led at 39.9%.

Topline:

- Tax AI companies and data centers, redistribute those tax revenues using an AI dividend payment to all Americans.: 39.9%
- Provide free retraining programs for all workers to ensure optimal and safe AI use.: 37.3%
- Make it easier to access unemployment benefits in the case of job loss or if young workers cannot find a job (e.g., by removing earnings and work experience requirements to qualify).: 36.3%
- Remove tax breaks or other incentives for data centers.: 35.9%
- Change student loan repayment to make payment conditional on employment and income.: 24.5%

### 53.9% are worried about the health effects of AI data centers, while 12.8% are not worried.

Question: How concerned are you about the health effects of AI data centers?

Note: Shows concern about the health effects of AI data centers; 53.9% are worried and 12.8% are not.

Topline:

- Very worried: 27.0%
- Worried: 26.9%
- Neutral: 22.6%
- I'm not aware of the health effects of AI data centers: 10.6%
- Not worried: 8.6%

## 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: 2026-06-03 → 2026-06-08
- Base (unweighted): 1,000
- Margin of error: +/- 3.1%
- Module: A
- Sponsor: Verasight
- Weight variable: weight
- Weighting targets: age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

## Sources

- [Among the following policy or regulatory ideas below, check all of the following that you would ask your state or federal policymakers to adopt to address AI](https://reports.verasight.io/r/paa-2026#q-12): reports.verasight.io/r/paa-2026: Shows which AI policy ideas adults would ask policymakers to adopt; 8.7% chose doing nothing, and the tax-and-dividend idea led at 39.9%.
- [How often in the past month have you seen news related to artificial intelligence?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/paa-2026#q-14): reports.verasight.io/r/paa-2026: Shows how often adults saw AI-related news in the past month; 67.8% saw it at least weekly and 12.0% saw none.
- [How concerned are you about the health effects of AI data centers?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/paa-2026#q-15): reports.verasight.io/r/paa-2026: Shows concern about the health effects of AI data centers; 53.9% are worried and 12.8% are not.

## Citation

Verasight PAA Omnibus Survey #2026-051, fielded June 3-8, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.1%.

Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/paa-2026#q-12](https://reports.verasight.io/r/paa-2026#q-12)