A recent poll conducted by Anthropic, which is preparing for its public debut, reveals a complex landscape of American attitudes towards artificial intelligence. While there is enthusiasm for AI's potential benefits, significant concerns about its societal impact and the companies behind it persist. According to the official information, many Americans fear job losses due to AI advancements.
Overview of the Survey
The survey, named the Public Record, collected responses from nearly 52,000 Americans in late 2025, making it one of the largest polls on AI perceptions to date. A predominant concern among respondents is job displacement, with 64% expressing anxiety over AI's potential to replace human jobs. This fear transcends political affiliations, resonating with both Democrats and Republicans across all surveyed states.
Concerns and Aspirations Regarding AI
Interestingly, the apprehension is more pronounced among individuals with higher education levels, as their professions are more likely to be affected by AI advancements. Conversely, nearly half of the participants identified curing diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's as their top aspirations for AI, while 36% hoped for assistance for people with disabilities. However, the desire for AI to replace human interaction, such as providing therapy, ranked the lowest among the options.
Trust in AI Companies
Despite these optimistic views, trust in AI companies remains alarmingly low, with only 15% of respondents expressing confidence in their ability to responsibly develop and utilize the technology. This level of trust is significantly lower than that in government entities and independent experts, who garnered 43% trust.
Bipartisan Support for Regulation
The survey also highlights a strong bipartisan consensus on the need for government regulation of AI, with over 70% of respondents advocating for oversight. This support spans from 79% among Democrats to 68% among Republicans, with a particular emphasis on issues related to:
- privacy
- child safety
- corporate accountability
Future Plans
Anthropic has indicated plans to conduct this survey regularly and expand its reach beyond the U.S.
A recent study revealed varying safety levels of AI models in addressing mental health topics, contrasting with the concerns about AI's societal impact highlighted in a recent poll. For more details, see the study.
