Americans View AI with Deep Skepticism, Fox News Poll Finds

Artificial intelligence technology faces widespread skepticism among American voters, with concerns about privacy violations and job losses driving negative perceptions, according to a new Fox News Poll released Thursday.

The survey reveals that voters believe AI causes more harm than good across nearly all aspects of society. Privacy concerns emerged as the most significant worry, with 63% of respondents saying AI hurts privacy while just 13% see it as beneficial—a striking 50-point margin.

Job creation represents another major area of concern, with 56% of voters believing AI harms U.S. employment opportunities compared to 21% who see it helping, resulting in a 35-point negative gap. The national economy fares slightly better but still registers negative sentiment, with 42% viewing AI’s impact as harmful versus 27% who consider it helpful.

Even at the personal level, skepticism prevails. When asked about AI’s impact on daily life, 38% of respondents said it hurts while 33% said it helps. Similarly, 30% believe AI negatively affects their personal lives, compared to 26% who see a positive effect.

The only area where AI received marginally positive marks was in global competitiveness, with 38% of voters believing it helps the United States compete internationally, while 32% see it as detrimental. However, this slim advantage doesn’t significantly alter the overall negative perception.

Many Americans remain on the fence about AI’s impact, particularly regarding personal relevance. A substantial 43% feel artificial intelligence makes no difference in their personal lives, while approximately 30% see no impact on the economy or global competitiveness.

Political affiliation appears to influence perceptions, though negativity crosses party lines. Both Democrats and independents express significant concerns about AI’s impact across all surveyed categories. Age also plays a role, with voters under 30 and those over 65 showing particular skepticism, though older voters give AI credit for potentially helping global competitiveness.

These concerns translate into an overall unfavorable view of artificial intelligence technology. Only 43% of respondents reported having a favorable opinion of AI, compared to 54% with an unfavorable view.

Demographic analysis reveals interesting patterns in AI acceptance. Higher-income households earning $100,000 or more annually view AI more favorably (54%), as do Republicans (53%) and Catholics (52%). Particularly noteworthy is the strong support among self-identified MAGA Republicans, 57% of whom expressed favorable opinions toward AI technology.

Conversely, independents (64% unfavorable), Democrats (61%), and women without college degrees (60%) represent some of the most AI-skeptical demographic groups.

On the political front, neither party enjoys a decisive advantage on AI policy. When asked which political party would better handle artificial intelligence issues, voters gave Democrats a slight edge at 51% compared to Republicans at 46%, a difference within the survey’s margin of error. The Democratic advantage stems partly from majority support among independents (54%) and some Republican crossover voters (13%).

The Fox News Poll was conducted April 17-20, 2026, under the joint direction of Beacon Research and Shaw & Company Research. It includes interviews with 1,001 registered voters randomly selected from a national voter file, with a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points.

As artificial intelligence continues to advance and integrate into various aspects of society, these findings highlight the significant public relations and policy challenges facing AI developers, companies, and government officials tasked with regulating this rapidly evolving technology.