New data published by Axios, citing a survey conducted by YouGov for The Economist, revealed a sharp rise in public concern over artificial intelligence in the United States.
According to the survey, nearly 70% of Americans believe AI is advancing too quickly, while only 18% of Gen Z respondents said they feel optimistic about the technology’s future.
The first quarter of 2026 also saw a record number of U.S. data center projects canceled, signaling growing regulatory and public resistance toward AI infrastructure expansion.
Analysts at Morgan Stanley warned that public backlash is increasingly becoming a major constraint on the sector, particularly around data center construction and energy consumption concerns.
Observers say the United States is increasingly becoming a global outlier in AI sentiment, even as governments and corporations worldwide continue accelerating AI adoption.