Americans rank AI among least-liked topics, worse than ICE and Trump, NBC poll reveals

Artificial Intelligence Faces Historic Public Rejection

Artificial intelligence has earned the dubious distinction of being one of the least-liked topics in America, according to a striking NBC poll that surveyed 1,000 registered voters between Feb. 27 and March 31

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. The results paint a sobering picture for an industry that has poured billions into development: only 26% of voters view AI positively, while 46% hold a negative view of AI, resulting in a net favorability of -202

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. This places the technology in company with some of the most controversial entities in American discourse, ranking more unfavorably than Immigration and Customs Enforcement, President Donald Trump, and both the Republican Party and Democratic Party3

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Public Sentiment Reveals Deep Disconnect With Industry Investment

The negative public sentiment toward AI stands in sharp contrast to the tech industry's massive financial commitment to the technology. Companies are investing up to $700 billion in capital expenditures for AI infrastructure, investments that rival the GDP of some developed countries3

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. OpenAI recently released its latest GPT 5.4 model, while AI companies have moved to work with the US Department of Defense1

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. Yet this aggressive push for AI adoption appears disconnected from how Americans actually feel about the technology. The NBC poll reveals that 57% of respondents believe the risks of artificial intelligence outweigh its benefits, a sentiment that has remained consistent across multiple surveys4

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Widespread Usage Despite Growing Fears of Job Displacement

A paradox emerges from the data: despite unfavorable views toward AI, usage continues to climb. Some 56% of respondents admitted to using AI platforms like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, or Google Gemini in recent months, up from 48% in December 20242

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. This cognitive dissonance suggests Americans are adopting AI tools out of necessity or convenience while harboring deep reservations about their broader impact.

Experts have warned that widespread AI adoption in the business world will bring about significant white-collar unemployment, with fears of job displacement ranking among the primary drivers of public apprehension2

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. A recent Anthropic economic report found AI is already theoretically capable of replacing a majority of tasks associated with business, finance, coding, and law3

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AI Privacy Issues and Surveillance Fuel Public Distrust

Public trust in AI remains alarmingly low across critical sectors. A December 2025 YouGov poll found that only 5% of Americans say they deeply trust AI, with trust lowest in healthcare and finance—ironically, the sectors where AI is expanding fastest4

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. AI privacy issues have intensified as the technology has turbocharged surveillance efforts globally2

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. The complicity of AI companies in controversial government actions has further damaged the industry's reputation. Palantir signed agreements to supply AI technology aiding ICE's anti-immigrant crackdown, while OpenAI stood firmly behind its decision to lease technology to the Pentagon2

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. AI company Anthropic recently filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration after being labeled a "supply chain risk" following failed negotiations about safety guardrails, particularly around preventing its model Claude from being used for mass surveillance or creating lethal autonomous weapons5

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Environmental Issues and Data Centers Spark Local Resistance

The intense energy demand posed by increased AI usage has emerged as a flashpoint for AI adoption concerns. The United States is experiencing an unprecedented data centers buildout, but locals living near these facilities have repeatedly complained about water shortages, rising utility bills, and worsening air quality2

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. The backlash has been so severe that data center project cancellations quadrupled in 2025 due to local resistance, prompting a growing number of states and localities to consider implementing moratoriums on new AI infrastructure2

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. These environmental issues compound existing concerns about misinformation, with AI chatbots repeatedly accused of inciting violence and promoting self-harm, leading grieving families to sue major providers like OpenAI and Character.AI2

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AI Regulation Becomes Political Battleground Ahead of Midterms

Artificial intelligence has become a major battleground in upcoming midterm elections, despite the technology remaining incredibly underregulated2

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. Big tech is spending significant amounts to back politically aligned candidates and undermine AI hawks running for election in November 2026, while those candidates make AI a core campaign issue2

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. The NBC poll reveals a sharp partisan gap in AI regulation preferences: Democrats trust the U.S. to regulate AI at lower rates than Republicans, while Democrats are more likely to trust the EU with the task4

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. However, most Americans think neither party adequately handles AI policies, with 33% saying both are bad at it4

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. President Trump is pushing for tighter controls on AI hardware while advancing infrastructure projects like the controversial Stargate Project, even as the technology holds a net favorability rating worse than most politicians4

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. For companies and policymakers investing heavily in AI, the biggest challenge will be less about developing innovative chatbots or AI devices and more about persuading the public that the technology can be trusted1

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