People really hate AI but not as much as Iran—or Democrats

Source Domain: www.aol.com

Artificial intelligence has permeated nearly every part of daily American life. It’s being adopted across the professional sphere, and threatening to replace large swaths of workers. It’s appeared in classrooms, doctor’s offices, and in Hollywood. And AI-generated content has penetrated your Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok feeds.

But even as AI weaves its way into the everyday, it’s failed to win over most Americans. That’s according to a new NBC News poll. The survey of 1,000 registered voters between Feb. 27 and March 3 found that just 26% had a positive view of AI, while 46% had a negative view. Those dismal numbers are third worst, trailing only the Democratic Party, which had a 22-point net negative rating, and Iran, with a 53-point net negative.

That low favorability comes as about 56% of Americans today say they use AI tools, according to a Brookings survey. And big tech companies are piling billions of dollars into the AI buildout, contributing up to $700 billion in capital expenditures, investments which rival the GDP of some developed countries.

While the technology has the potential to radically transform society, with some leaders viewing it as a cure-all that could boost productivity, bolster innovation, and even cure cancer, the very scale of that transformation has also made many Americans wary of its potential.

At the same time, the rush of data center construction to support increased AI use has been met with a “not in my backyard” backlash, and AI’s increased electricity demand has spiked Americans’ utility bills.

nbc news survey

The Democrats’ abysmal numbers

Still, AI’s numbers are better than the Democratic Party’s. A 52% majority of those surveyed have a negative view of Democrats, with just 30% saying they have a favorable view. The party has faced a reckoning since its disappointing defeat in the 2024 presidential election, triggering internal conflict and constant finger-pointing. Political post-mortem after post-mortem…

Source