Anthropic conducted a survey in late 2025 gathering responses from nearly 52,000 Americans on artificial intelligence attitudes. The poll, called the 'Public Record,' revealed contradictory public views: Americans hope AI will cure diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's yet fear economic disruption from job losses, and express profound skepticism toward the companies developing the technology. The survey represents one of the largest national polls on AI attitudes to date, arriving as the AI industry faces growing calls for regulatory oversight.
Job Loss Fears Dominate Across All Demographics
Job loss emerged as the dominant fear, with 64% of respondents expressing worry about AI-driven displacement. This concern ranked as the top fear among both Democrats and Republicans, and in every state surveyed. The anxiety was higher among more educated Americans, whose work overlaps more closely with tasks AI is increasingly being asked to perform.
Disease Cure Hopes Rank Highest Among AI Aspirations
Nearly half of Americans said curing diseases like cancer or Alzheimer's ranked among their top three wishes for AI. Helping people with disabilities followed at 36%. Hopes that AI might substitute for human connection—such as offering therapy or reducing loneliness—ranked lowest among the options presented in the survey.
Trust in AI Companies Falls Below Government Institutions
Only 15% of respondents said they trust AI companies to make decisions about how the technology is developed and used. This figure placed AI companies below the federal government, state and local government, and international bodies in trust rankings. Independent experts received the highest trust level at 43%.
Bipartisan Majority Supports Government Regulation of AI
Over 70% of those surveyed said the government should play a role in regulating AI. Support ran from 79% among Democrats to 68% among Republicans. Americans were most eager for government action on privacy, child safety, and corporate liability for harm caused by AI systems.
Anthropic Plans Regular Survey Repetition and International Expansion
Anthropic said it plans to repeat the survey regularly and expand it beyond the United States. The company, which makes the Claude AI assistant and recently filed to go public, positioned the 'Public Record' as an ongoing effort to track public sentiment on artificial intelligence development.
FAQ
What did Anthropic's survey find about American attitudes toward AI?
Anthropic's late 2025 survey of nearly 52,000 Americans found that 64% fear AI-driven job loss, nearly half hope AI will cure diseases like cancer or Alzheimer's, and only 15% trust AI companies to make development decisions. Over 70% support government regulation of AI, with bipartisan backing.
Why do more educated Americans express higher anxiety about AI job displacement?
The survey found that anxiety about AI-driven job loss was higher among more educated Americans because their work overlaps more closely with tasks that AI is increasingly being asked to perform, making them more vulnerable to potential displacement.
What are Americans' top priorities for government regulation of AI?
Americans surveyed were most eager for government action on privacy protection, child safety measures, and corporate liability for harm caused by AI systems. Support for government oversight exceeded 70% overall, with 79% among Democrats and 68% among Republicans.
