A new Reuters/Ipsos poll has found that most US voters believe the Donald Trump administration and Congress are not taking the risks associated with artificial intelligence seriously enough, while a majority also supports stronger government regulation of AI.
The nationwide survey found that 57% of registered voters believe the Trump administration has not taken AI risks seriously enough or at all, while 54% expressed the same view about Congress. The findings highlight growing concern over the rapid development and use of artificial intelligence across the United States.
AI has become an increasingly important public and political issue as concerns grow over its potential impact on jobs, cybersecurity, human safety and national security. The expansion of energy-intensive data centres powering AI systems has also raised concerns over their impact on local communities and utility costs.
According to the poll, 84% of voters view AI as a threat to American workers, making job displacement one of the leading concerns surrounding the technology. In addition, 62% said AI could become uncontrollable and pose a risk to the future of humanity.
Support for stricter AI regulation was also widespread across political lines. Around 80% of Democrats and 61% of Republicans said they favoured stronger government regulation of artificial intelligence.
The survey also found that 56% of voters support restrictions on the construction of data centres, including 69% of Democrats, 55% of independents and 43% of Republicans. Concerns are also increasing over the use of AI in military operations, with 57% saying the US government should not use AI to determine targets for military strikes.
Despite growing public concern, federal action on AI regulation remains limited. While political figures from both parties and across the ideological spectrum have called for greater oversight, Congress has yet to reach agreement on comprehensive legislation. The Trump administration has instead supported voluntary safety measures and continued investment in AI infrastructure.
The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online nationwide among 4,506 US adults, including 3,526 registered voters, with a margin of error of two percentage points.
