Poll: One in Three Americans Now Fears AI Will Make Their Job Obsolete
A new poll released by Quinnipiac University on Monday reveals a sharp increase in public anxiety about artificial intelligence and employment, with one in three Americans now fearing that AI will make their job obsolete. The survey found that 30% of Americans are concerned their specific job could be rendered obsolete by AI, a significant jump from 21% in April 2025.
This nine percentage point increase in under a year represents one of the most dramatic shifts in public sentiment on the issue recorded to date. The broader outlook is even more pessimistic, with seven in ten Americans — 70% — believing that advances in artificial intelligence will lead to a general decrease in job opportunities across the entire economy.
Which Generation Is More Worried About AI Job Loss?
The anxiety cuts across all age groups, but with notable differences in intensity. Millennials are more concerned than their younger counterparts, with 34% of millennials saying they worry their job will become obsolete, compared to 26% of Gen Z. The gap widens further when examining those who are "very concerned" — 15% of millennials fell into that category, compared to just 7% of Gen Z.
The reasons for this generational divide are not entirely clear, but analysts suggest millennials are more likely to be established in careers that could be directly disrupted by automation. In contrast, younger workers may feel more adaptable or less anchored to a specific role, potentially explaining their lower levels of intense concern.
Regulation, Data Centers, and Military Use of AI
Job fears are only part of the story. The poll reveals a broad and deep unease about AI across multiple dimensions of American life. On regulation, 74% of Americans believe the government is not doing enough to oversee the technology — a finding that will add pressure on lawmakers who have struggled to agree on a coherent federal AI policy.
On infrastructure, 65% said they would oppose the construction of an AI data center in their own community — a striking number given the rapid pace at which tech companies are racing to build these facilities across the country. Regarding daily life, 55% of Americans believe AI will do more harm than good — a majority view that stands in sharp contrast to the optimism frequently expressed by technology executives and investors.
And on the military use of AI, 51% said they oppose the use of artificial intelligence to select targets in warfare. This finding arrives amid a very public dispute between AI company Anthropic and the Department of Defense over exactly that question, highlighting the ethical dilemmas surrounding autonomous weapons systems.
The Bigger Picture: Fear Outweighs Excitement
Taken together, the poll paints a picture of a public that is watching the AI revolution unfold with significantly more fear than excitement. While the technology industry continues to frame AI as a tool for productivity and progress, ordinary Americans are increasingly asking harder questions — about their livelihoods, their communities, their safety, and who, if anyone, is keeping watch over this rapidly evolving technology.
The Quinnipiac Poll was conducted between March 19 and 23 and included approximately 1,400 US adults, with a margin of error of 3.3 percentage points. The results underscore the growing disconnect between public perception and industry narratives, suggesting that as AI integration accelerates, so too does societal apprehension.
