CNN poll shows 75% of Americans fear AI's impact on jobs, privacy.

Seventy‑five percent of Americans said they feel “fear and concern” about the growth and development of artificial‑intelligence technology, according to a CNN poll released Thursday. The survey of 1,500 adults found that three‑quarters of respondents are uneasy about AI’s impact on jobs, privacy and safety. The poll comes as tech CEOs and U.S. lawmakers are publicly urging a slowdown in AI rollout.

The anxiety reflects a wave of high‑profile AI releases that have reshaped daily life. Since OpenAI launched ChatGPT in late 2022, generative tools for text, images and video have proliferated. Recent incidents of deep‑fake videos spreading misinformation and AI‑generated code causing security flaws have heightened public alarm. At the same time, Congress is holding hearings on AI risks, and the White House has issued an executive order calling for a “coordinated approach” to AI governance. Europe is moving ahead with its AI Act, which could become a global benchmark.

The poll shows a split across age and education. Respondents under 35 were slightly less fearful, with 62 percent expressing concern, while 84 percent of those over 55 said they were uneasy. College‑educated voters were more likely to cite job displacement as a worry, whereas those without a degree emphasized privacy and misinformation. Tech leaders such as Elon Musk and Bill Gates have echoed the public’s unease, warning that unchecked AI could outpace regulation. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced plans to introduce legislation that would require transparency reports from AI developers and fund a federal AI safety board.

What happens next will shape how quickly AI moves from labs to homes. Lawmakers are expected to draft bills that could impose licensing for high‑risk AI models and fund research into safety tools. Industry groups have pledged to create voluntary standards, but critics say self‑regulation is insufficient. The next few months will likely see a clash between innovators pushing rapid deployment and regulators responding to a public that, according to the poll, is more than three‑quarters fearful of where AI is headed.