Americans Mostly Fear AI, And The Lawmakers Writing The Rules Barely Use It

A wave of new polling and reporting this week reveals an American public increasingly anxious about artificial intelligence. Americans worry about AI’s environmental toll, are divided on whether it threatens humanity, and are split over racing China. Meanwhile, the very lawmakers tasked with regulating the technology admit they know little about it firsthand. Adding to the moment, former President Barack Obama is pushing Dems to make AI a defining political issue.

According to Time, a new survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago found that 53% of Americans are now “extremely” or “very” concerned about AI’s environmental impact, up from 41% a year ago. 

The worry crosses party lines: 65% of Democrats, 49% of Independents and 42% of Republicans reported great concern this year, each up from 2025. About 6 in 10 Americans support limiting new data centers, and roughly two-thirds favor requiring these centers to run on clean energy, according to Time.

On the question of AI’s existential risk, Politico‘s polling (conducted from Sept. 13-15 among 2,064 U.S. adults) found that 63% of respondents believe there is at least a “moderate” risk that advanced AI could eventually destroy humanity, including 17% who called it “almost certain,” Politico reported. 

Concern spanned the political spectrum: 70% of 2024 Kamala Harris voters and 60% of Donald Trump voters shared at least moderate worry. Nearly half of Americans (48%), favored pausing AI development, compared with 31% who favored pushing forward, Politico found. 

The same survey revealed a partisan split on China: half of Trump voters said the U.S. cannot afford to fall behind competitors even if that means more risk, while a majority of Harris voters said it’s acceptable to fall behind in favor of more responsible development, reports Politico.

That public anxiety is colliding with an uncomfortable reality inside the Capitol. According to Axios, more than two dozen members of Congress said they rarely use AI—or have never used it at all (yikes)—even as pressure builds on them to write rules governing it. 

Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), 75, chair of the Armed Services Committee, told Axios, “Heavens no,” when asked if he uses AI. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), 74, ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said he doesn’t “think I’ve ever used it,” according to Axios. Some lawmakers are frequent users, however: Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), 79, told Axios he uses AI “every day.”

Amid that gap, Obama is urging Democrats to move faster. According to NBC News, the former president told House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries at a private fundraiser last week that Democrats should assemble a clear framework for a public conversation on AI policy if they retake the House in the midterms. 

Obama also said 2028 presidential candidates should make AI one of their “central agendas” with “a very clear plan” for addressing its safety and economic risks.

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