How Americans want AI handled in politics and public life
Core finding
Americans bring clear expectations and real wariness to AI's move into politics. Strong majorities want disclosure when campaigns use it, a plurality would penalize candidates who do, and most doubt they have any influence over how it is governed.
The wariness is not limited to elections. About 63% say AI's main beneficiaries are wealthy investors and big corporations rather than ordinary Americans, and 31% expect AI to shape judges' decisions to a large extent.
Most want campaigns to disclose AI use
73.7% say a campaign should always disclose when it uses AI to write or generate messages. Another 9.9% want disclosure for images, video, or audio, and 8.0% when the content is misleading, so more than nine in ten favor disclosure in some form.
Only 3.5% say disclosure should not be required, with 4.8% unsure.
Topline
73.7% say campaigns should always disclose when they use AI.
n = 1,000 · Jun 21, 2026 · MoE ±3.2%
Using AI carries a penalty with voters
If they learned a campaign used AI for materials like websites, ads, and canvassing scripts, 44.7% say they would be less likely to support the candidate, including 23.8% much less likely and 20.9% somewhat less likely.
Just 11.0% would be more likely to support such a candidate, while 44.3% say it would make no difference.
Stacked breakdown
44.7% would be less likely to support a candidate whose campaign used AI.
n = 1,000 · Jun 21, 2026 · MoE ±3.2%
Wariness extends beyond the campaign
78.4% feel they have little or no say in how AI is developed and regulated, with 48.7% saying not at all and 29.7% not much.
62.7% agree the main beneficiaries of AI are wealthy investors and big corporations, not ordinary Americans.
On AI in the courts, 31.3% think it will affect judges' decisions to a large extent, while 49.8% expect a minimal effect.
Stacked breakdown
78.4% feel they have little or no say in how AI is regulated.
n = 1,000 · Jun 21, 2026 · MoE ±3.2%
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 21, 2026 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.2% |
| Module | 3 |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/mpsa26
If a political campaign uses artificial intelligence to write, edit, or generate campaign messages, should the campaign be required to disclose that AI was used?
- reports.verasight.io/r/mpsa26
If you discovered that a political campaign used AI to write materials like campaign websites, advertising materials, and scripts for canvassers, would you be more likely, less likely or equally likely to support the candidate?
- reports.verasight.io/r/mpsa26
To what extent do you feel you have a say in how artificial intelligence is developed and regulated by companies and government?
- reports.verasight.io/r/mpsa26
Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree the following statement: The main beneficiaries of AI are wealthy investors and big corporations, not ordinary Americans
- reports.verasight.io/r/mpsa26
To what extent do you think Artificial Intelligence will affect Judges’ decision making?
Cite this topic
Verasight MPSA Omnibus Survey #2026-050, fielded June 21-21, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.2%.