AI Backlash: Americans Show Growing Skepticism

Author: Madison Mills Date: May 17, 2026 Source: https://www.axios.com/2026/05/17/ai-backlash-polling-sentiment

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Key Findings

Polling Data on AI Sentiment:

• Only 18% of young people (ages 14-29) feel hopeful about AI (Gallup survey)
• Over 70% of Americans believe AI is advancing too quickly
• 68% of Republicans and 77% of Democrats say development moves too fast
• Negative views of AI rose from 34% three years ago to just over 50% currently

Age breakdown: concerns increase with age, from 64% (ages 18-29) to 79% (ages 65+).

Main Concerns

The public worries AI will:

• Eliminate jobs
• Increase electricity costs
• Concentrate wealth among the wealthy
• Damage the environment

Notable Incidents

A commencement speaker at UCF was booed after calling AI "the next Industrial Revolution," illustrating widespread public disapproval.

Industry Response

AI executives appear disconnected from public sentiment. One CEO stated: "We don't really see that" regarding negative polling, suggesting leadership underestimates backlash severity.

Real-World Impact

Data center cancellations hit record levels in Q1 2026 due to community resistance, threatening AI companies' computational resources and investor confidence.