Most Americans agree the government should regulate AI, but party splits emerge on how
The Ipsos Consumer Tracker asks Americans questions about culture, the economy and the forces that shape our lives. Here's one thing we learned this week.
Why we asked: In a previous waves we found that sizeable, growing majorities want government to have some role in regulating AI. This was the obvious follow-up… how do people want that regulation to look? (Meanwhile there is some talk among AI execs of the U.S. nationalizing AI instead of just regulating it.)
What we found: A strong, bipartisan majority feel that government has a role to play here. Just one in ten people say there should be no regulation. Most Americans (63%) want the federal government to ensure AI outputs don’t cause harm. This sentiment bridges the political divide, with both most Democrats (67%) and most Republicans (63%) agreeing that safety is the top priority. Most (53%) also think the government should ensure AI outputs are accurate. And half of Americans (49%) want the government to ensure AI doesn’t lead to widespread job losses, with Democrats (52%) and Republicans (47%) showing relatively similar levels of concern.
The party splits show up on the social and environmental impacts of tech. The gap is widest when it comes to the planet. Most Democrats (56%) think the government should evaluate AI’s environmental impact, but only about a quarter of Republicans (28%) agree. And nearly half of Democrats (47%) want regulation to ensure AI is fair and doesn’t discriminate, but only a third of Republicans (33%).
So Americans aren't debating if AI should be regulated; they are debating what we should be protecting. For brands using AI, this suggests that safety and accuracy are the table stakes for consumer trust, while fairness remains a more politically charged expectation.
More insights from this wave of the Ipsos Consumer Tracker:
Almost all Americans think gas prices have gone up and will get worse
Gas prices aren’t hurting Americans’ summer plans … yet
Despite the hype, most don’t plan to watch any NCAA March Madness
Storage, privacy and a preference for brick-and-mortar are the biggest barriers for retail apps
Most Americans agree the government should regulate AI, but party splits emerge on how
The Ipsos Care-o-Meter: What does America know about vs. what does America care about?
