The fear of AI has reached a fever pitch.
There’s data to support it. According to the Chapman University Survey of American Fears, an annual poll that asks what Americans are “really afraid of,” the fear of AI hurting the political process and economy ranked in third and seventh place, respectively.
These fears were only outdone by “corrupt government officials” and the possibility of the US becoming involved in another world war. Perhaps the most extraordinary context: anxieties about AI are scaring Americans more than the fear of a loved one “becoming seriously ill,” or “people I love dying.”
Put simply, according to the survey, people are more scared of AI than a loved one getting a terminal diagnosis — a grim indication of just how much head space fears of AI are taking up for the average person.
Other surveys have turned up similar findings. Just last month, a Politico poll found that roughly two thirds of Americans believes there’s now at least a “moderate” chance that advanced AI could destroy humanity.
“These findings make it clear that Americans are concerned not just about what AI might mean for their jobs, but about its potential impact on our political system and the economy,” said Chapman University professor of sociology and survey founder Christopher Bader in a statement. “As artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into everyday life, understanding these fears will be increasingly important.”
“We expect concerns about AI to remain a significant part of the national conversation in the years ahead,” he added.
At the same time, the exact ranking should be taken with a grain of salt.
“I think it’s important to keep in mind that the top 10 doesn’t tell the full story, and even though a lot of fears went up this year, there are a lot of fears that are also actually lower,” said Chapman University sociology associate professor Ashley Wendell Kranjac in the statement. For instance, fewer Americans listed air pollution or terrorist attacks compared to last year.
However, we’ve already seen that many of these fears are well-founded. The tech industry is essentially betting the fate of the entire economy by making colossal investments in data centers, massive investments that may not only fail to pay off, but could even cause global markets to collapse if the bubble bursts. Political candidates are also spending obscene amounts on AI slop in an effort to influence the upcoming midterm elections.
In short, it’s no wonder Americans are terrified of what AI hath wrought.
More on AI fears: The Majority of Americans Are Now Terrified of AI
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