# How Americans want AI handled in politics and public life

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/ai/how-americans-want-ai-handled-in-politics-and-public-life/
Published: 2026-06-21

> Featured topic in AI & Tech.

Roughly 74% say political campaigns should always disclose when they use AI, and 45% would be less likely to back a candidate who used it, even as 78% feel they have little or no say in how AI is regulated.

## Overview: AI enters politics on a short leash

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.

## 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.

## 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.

## Supporting evidence

### 73.7% say campaigns should always disclose when they use AI.

Question: 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?

Note: 73.7% say a political campaign should always disclose when it uses AI to write or generate campaign messages.

Topline:

- Yes, always: 73.7%
- Yes, but only when the content includes images, video, or audio: 9.9%
- Yes, but only when the content is misleading or deceptive: 8.0%
- Not sure: 4.8%
- No, disclosure should not be required: 3.5%

### 44.7% would be less likely to support a candidate whose campaign used AI.

Question: 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?

Note: 44.7% would be less likely to support a candidate after learning the campaign used AI for materials like websites, ads, and canvassing scripts.

Topline:

- Neither more or less likely: 44.3%
- Much less likely: 23.8%
- Somewhat less likely: 20.9%
- Somewhat more likely: 7.0%
- Much more likely: 4.0%

### 78.4% feel they have little or no say in how AI is regulated.

Question: To what extent do you feel you have a say in how artificial intelligence is developed and regulated by companies and government?

Note: 78.4% feel they have little or no say in how AI is developed and regulated.

Topline:

- Not at all: 48.7%
- Not much: 29.7%
- Somewhat: 14.4%
- Very much: 7.1%

## 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: 2026-06-21 → 2026-06-21
- 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

- [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?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/mpsa26#q-128): reports.verasight.io/r/mpsa26: 73.7% say a political campaign should always disclose when it uses AI to write or generate campaign messages.
- [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?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/mpsa26#q-71): reports.verasight.io/r/mpsa26: 44.7% would be less likely to support a candidate after learning the campaign used AI for materials like websites, ads, and canvassing scripts.
- [To what extent do you feel you have a say in how artificial intelligence is developed and regulated by companies and government?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/mpsa26#q-7): reports.verasight.io/r/mpsa26: 78.4% feel they have little or no say in how AI is developed and regulated.
- [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](https://reports.verasight.io/r/mpsa26#q-122): reports.verasight.io/r/mpsa26: 62.7% agree the main beneficiaries of AI are wealthy investors and big corporations, not ordinary Americans.
- [To what extent do you think Artificial Intelligence will affect Judges’ decision making?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/mpsa26#q-123): reports.verasight.io/r/mpsa26: 31.3% think AI will affect judges' decision making to a large extent.

## Citation

Verasight MPSA Omnibus Survey #2026-050, fielded June 21-21, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.2%.

Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/mpsa26#q-128](https://reports.verasight.io/r/mpsa26#q-128)