US public trust in corporate AI falls to 27% on job loss fears
A new Gallup poll shows plummeting public trust in businesses to use AI responsibly, signaling potential regulatory headwinds and consumer adoption limits for companies investing heavily in the technology.
Public skepticism toward artificial intelligence is accelerating in the US, with trust in corporate AI deployment dropping to new lows. According to a Tuesday report from Gallup, only 27% of Americans now trust businesses to use AI responsibly, down from 31% last year.
The erosion of confidence is most severe among younger demographics, a crucial consumer base for technology adoption. Among adults aged 18 to 29, trust in corporate AI fell to 20%, while those with zero trust surged from 29% to 41%.
Driving this skepticism are mounting fears over labor market disruption. Seventy-nine percent of Americans expect AI to reduce the total number of US jobs over the next decade, up from 73% last year. That figure jumped to 75% among 18-to-29-year-olds and hit 84% for those aged 45 to 59.
As familiarity with the technology increases, sentiment is souring. Seventy percent of Americans now claim to be somewhat or extremely knowledgeable about AI, up from 64% in 2024. Yet 39% now believe AI does more harm than good, a sharp increase from 31% last year. Just 9% believe it does more good than harm.
For financial markets, the polling data contains specific nuances. Americans increasingly view AI as performing about as well as humans in providing financial advice, medical advice, and driving. However, human professionals still maintain a definitive edge across every measured category, including financial advising, hiring decisions, creative work, and student tutoring.
The Gallup data aligns with broader surveys highlighting a stark disconnect between usage and confidence. An NBC News poll in March found 56% of Americans recently used tools like ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot, yet 57% felt the risks outweighed the benefits. A separate Anthropic survey of nearly 52,000 people in June found job losses were the top AI concern across all political parties, with only 15% trusting AI companies to govern the technology's development.
For executives and investors, the shifting public mood represents a tangible risk to long-term AI investment theses. Widespread anxiety over job displacement and exceptionally low corporate trust create a highly receptive environment for stricter regulatory oversight. Such political friction could increase compliance costs, invite litigation, and ultimately slow the commercial rollout of AI-driven products.
