A new poll indicates a majority of Americans view artificial intelligence as a significant threat to employment and believe the government must prioritise worker protection over technology sector profits. The survey, conducted by Blue Rose Research with 2,716 respondents, reveals deep public anxiety about automation and a lack of confidence in economic leadership.
The data shows 79% of those surveyed are concerned the government has no plan to protect workers from AI-driven job losses. This fear is part of broader economic pessimism: 64% believe systems in the United States favour the elite, while 61% report their lives have become less affordable in the past year. Only a quarter feel confident about their financial future. Furthermore, 57% stated AI is advancing “too fast,” with 77% fearing entire industries could be eliminated more quickly than new ones emerge. A majority, 79%, worry that young people will face diminished opportunities due to the technology.
Reflecting this sentiment, 58% of respondents demand the government prioritise assisting workers displaced by AI, even if such actions limit tech company profits. Just 20% support prioritising innovation if it leads to U.S. job losses. More than half believe technology firms should bear financial responsibility for jobs eliminated through automation.
These findings coincide with a challenging labour market. Total U.S. layoff announcements reached nearly 1.2 million in 2023, the highest annual figure since 2020. AI and automation were cited as direct factors in thousands of job cuts at major corporations, including Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet, Walmart, Intel, and UPS.
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has amplified these concerns, predicting that AI could eliminate nearly 100 million American jobs within the next decade. He argues the technology is predominantly used to boost corporate profits and concentrate wealth, pointing to executives who announce large automation investments alongside mass layoffs and cost-cutting measures.
The polling underscores a growing public demand for proactive policy responses to technological displacement. As AI adoption accelerates across sectors, the tension between innovation-driven profit and workforce security has become a central issue in the national economic conversation, with clear implications for future legislation and corporate strategy.
