Majority of Americans Alarmed by AI's Threat to Jobs and Society

According to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, a majority of Americans are increasingly alarmed by the potential societal impacts of artificial intelligence (AI). The survey, conducted over six days and concluding on August 19, 2025, found that 71% of respondents are concerned that AI will permanently put too many people out of work.

The rise of AI has been a major topic of national conversation since late 2022, when OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot became a viral sensation. Tech giants like Meta, Google, and Microsoft have since introduced their own AI products, further fueling concerns about the technology's disruptive effects. While the U.S. jobless rate remains low at 4.2% as of July 2025, the public is clearly uneasy about AI's potential to reshape industries and daily life.

Beyond job losses, the poll also revealed deep unease about AI's other societal implications. 77% of respondents said they worry the technology could be used to stir up political chaos, likely a reference to the recent spread of AI-generated misinformation. There are also concerns about military applications of AI, with 48% saying the government should never use it to determine targets for strikes.

Additionally, over 60% of Americans expressed worry about the growing energy demands of the fast-expanding AI sector, which has outpaced power supplies in some regions. As the technology continues to advance, the public's anxieties show no signs of abating.