Americans turn negative on AI after two years of optimism

Polling conducted by Bentley University and Gallup reveals a significant hardening of American public opinion toward artificial intelligence after two years of improving attitudes. Nearly four in 10 US adults—40% according to the survey—now believe AI does more harm than good. This represents a marked increase from 31% one year prior, a 9 percentage point jump in negative sentiment.

The shift is most pronounced among younger Americans. Nearly half of US adults aged 18 to 29 hold the view that AI causes more harm than good, indicating that skepticism is particularly acute in this demographic. The broader population shift appears tied to the technology's increasing visibility in practical settings: as AI has begun to be deployed in businesses and classrooms, abstract optimism has given way to more concrete concerns.

Two particular worries dominate the data. On the economic front, nearly eight in 10 Americans—approximately 80%—believe AI will reduce the overall number of US jobs over the next decade. By contrast, only 6% expect AI to increase jobs, a stark imbalance in expectations. On the corporate trustworthiness front, the numbers are equally troubling for technology companies: only 27% of Americans say they trust businesses to use AI responsibly. This low trust figure suggests that even if Americans acknowledge AI's potential, they harbor doubts about whether companies will deploy it in ways that benefit society broadly rather than maximizing profit.

The polling data aligns with other indicators of public skepticism toward AI infrastructure. Americans also widely disapprove of data centers—the large, energy-intensive facilities that power AI systems—suggesting that skepticism extends beyond the technology itself to the physical infrastructure required to support it.

The shift in American sentiment toward AI marks a reversal of a two-year positive trend. What was once optimism about the technology has given way to concern as AI deployment has become tangible rather than abstract—moving from theoretical discussion into workplaces and classrooms where real people encounter it. The polling from Bentley University and Gallup captures a moment when the technology's presence has become undeniable, and skepticism has followed.

The data points to two distinct anxieties. First, there is the economic fear: nearly eight in 10 Americans expect job losses from AI over the next decade. Second, there is a trust deficit. Only 27% believe companies will use AI responsibly, a finding that suggests the public sees a gap between corporate interests and broader social benefit. The sharpness of the swing among younger adults (nearly 50% negative) indicates the skepticism is not confined to older, more tech-skeptical cohorts. The polling also notes that Americans widely disapprove of data centers, the infrastructure backbone of AI systems, which may reflect growing unease about the energy demands and physical footprint of the technology.

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