A new national survey suggests growing numbers of Americans are worried that artificial intelligence is advancing faster than protections for workers, with many linking automation fears to worsening household financial pressure and distrust in how economic gains are being distributed.
Research released by Blue Rose Research, based on responses from 2,716 people surveyed earlier this month, found that 61 percent of respondents believe everyday life has become less affordable over the past year, while only a quarter said they feel secure about their financial future. Nearly two-thirds also said the economic system increasingly benefits elites rather than ordinary workers.
Concern over AI emerged as one of the fastest-growing public anxieties in the poll. Fifty-seven percent of those surveyed said artificial intelligence is developing too quickly, while 79 percent said they do not believe the federal government has a clear strategy to protect workers whose jobs may be displaced by automation.
The findings show concern extends beyond immediate job security. Seventy-nine percent said they fear younger generations entering the workforce will face fewer employment opportunities because of AI, and 77 percent believe whole sectors of the economy could disappear faster than replacement industries are created.
A majority of respondents said public policy should focus on helping people who lose jobs to automation, even if that slows profits for major technology firms. Fifty-eight percent backed worker protection over unrestricted innovation, while only one in five said technological progress should remain the priority even when it leads to domestic job losses.
More than half also said companies benefiting from AI should bear financial responsibility when automation leads to layoffs.
The poll comes as major US employers continue restructuring workforces while increasing investment in automation. Large-scale layoffs have been announced across companies including Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet, Intel and UPS, with automation and AI increasingly cited as contributing factors.
Image credit: Rob Knight
