Anthropic Survey: 64% of Americans Fear AI Job Loss, Only 15% Trust AI Companies
In brief
- 64% of Americans worry about AI-driven job loss, the top fear across all states and both parties
- Nearly half ranked curing cancer and Alzheimer's among their top three wishes for AI
- Only 15% trust AI companies to make decisions about the technology versus 43% for independent experts
- Over 70% support government regulation of AI, prioritizing privacy, child safety, and corporate liability
Job Loss Dominates Public Anxiety
64% of respondents expressed worry about AI-driven job displacement, making it the dominant fear across the country. The anxiety wasn't confined to any single region or political camp. Job loss anxiety was the top-ranked fear among both Democrats and Republicans, and in every state surveyed.
Notably, anxiety about AI-driven job loss was higher among more educated Americans, whose work overlaps more closely with what AI is increasingly capable of automating. The breadth of this concern—spanning geography, party affiliation, and education level—suggests the job displacement narrative has penetrated mainstream consciousness.
Health and Disability Stand Out as Hopes
When asked about positive uses for AI, Americans gravitated toward medical applications. Nearly half of Americans said curing diseases like cancer or Alzheimer's ranked among their top three wishes for AI. 36% of respondents ranked helping people with disabilities as a top wish for AI.
By contrast, hopes that AI might substitute for human connection—such as offering therapy or reducing loneliness—ranked lowest among options presented. Americans see AI as a tool for solving tangible problems, not for replacing human relationships.
Trust in AI Companies Remains Minimal
The survey exposed a sharp credibility gap. Only 15% of respondents said they trust AI companies to make decisions about how the technology is developed and used, a figure that falls below trust in government and international bodies, and dramatically below the 43% who trust independent experts.
This distrust appears to fuel demand for oversight. Over 70% of survey respondents said the government should play a role in regulating AI, with support running from 79% among Democrats to 68% among Republicans. Americans were most eager for government action on privacy, child safety, and corporate liability for harm.
What's Next
Anthropic—the Claude maker that recently filed to go public—said it plans to repeat the survey regularly and expand it beyond the United States. The Public Record may become a recurring benchmark for how public sentiment on AI shifts as the technology matures and its economic impact becomes clearer.
