Briefly
- Synthetic intelligence holds a web favorability score of -20 amongst U.S. voters, rating beneath figures together with President Trump and Kamala Harris in a brand new NBC Information ballot.
- Regardless of the weak sentiment, 56% of respondents stated they used an AI platform akin to ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot or Google Gemini in latest months, up from 48% in late 2024.
- A majority of respondents, 57%, stated the dangers of synthetic intelligence outweigh its advantages, reflecting broader issues about privateness, financial disruption and belief within the expertise.
Greater than half of Individuals stated they’d used an artificial-intelligence platform prior to now two to 3 months, in accordance with a brand new ballot.
But when respondents have been requested to price their emotions towards the expertise, AI ranked close to the underside of the checklist.
The survey of 1,000 registered voters was carried out by NBC Information in partnership with Hart Analysis Associates and Public Opinion Methods, from February 27 via March 3.
Simply 26% of registered voters view AI positively, whereas 46% say they view it negatively, yielding a web favorability rating of minus 20 factors.
AI’s web favorability trailed Immigration and Customs Enforcement at -18, the Republican Celebration at -14, President Trump at -12, Kamala Harris at -17, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom at -18.
Solely the Democratic Celebration, at -22, and Iran, at -53, ranked decrease.
Utilization figures, nonetheless, level to a special pattern. Some 56% of respondents stated they’d used an AI platform akin to ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, or Google Gemini prior to now few months, up from 53% in August 2025 and 48% in December 2024.
The info point out Individuals are adopting the instruments at the same time as their views of the expertise stay lukewarm.
The ballot additionally requested whether or not the advantages of synthetic intelligence outweigh the dangers. A majority of respondents, 57%, stated the dangers outweigh the advantages, whereas 34% stated the alternative.
The outcomes align with a Pew Analysis Heart survey from final September, which discovered that fifty% of U.S. adults have been extra involved than enthusiastic about AI, up from 37% 4 years earlier.
Different surveys paint an analogous image. A December 2025 YouGov ballot discovered that 35% of Individuals use AI no less than as soon as every week, but solely 5% say they deeply belief it.
Belief is lowest in healthcare and finance, sectors the place AI can also be increasing quickest. A Quinnipiac College survey from April 2025 discovered that simply 4% of Individuals suppose they’ll belief AI-generated info virtually on a regular basis, and practically three-quarters stated the federal government ought to intervene to stop AI-caused job losses.
The NBC knowledge additionally present a pointy partisan hole in how the query about AI governance is framed: Democrats belief the U.S. to manage AI at decrease charges than Republicans, whereas Democrats usually tend to belief the EU with the duty—a reversal of the same old sample on international establishments.
General, most Individuals suppose neither occasion is nice at dealing with AI insurance policies, with 33% saying each are dangerous, 4% not sure, and 24% saying they do an analogous job.
However regardless of that notion, politicians haven’t slowed down their curiosity in AI.
President Trump is pushing for tighter controls on AI {hardware}, whereas lawmakers are exploring methods to develop home AI industries with out alienating voters.
The controversy is unfolding amid persistent issues about privateness and the expertise’s financial influence.
On the similar time, the White Home is advancing AI infrastructure tasks, together with the controversial Stargate Mission, even because the expertise holds a web favorability score worse than most politicians.
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