Americans Rally Behind Human-First AI Rules and Transparency in New Poll

Nationwide Survey Shows Strong Preference for Human Interaction and Stricter AI Rules

A recent poll of over 2,000 American adults reveals that a clear majority favor tighter controls on artificial intelligence, even among those who view the technology positively.

Respondents expressed a desire to choose a human over an algorithm in critical domains such as health care (79 % support), legal matters (76 %) and education (74 %). The call for “right‑to‑human” options cuts across party lines and spans both frequent AI users and occasional experimenters.

Public Sentiment on AI Use and Trust

Overall attitudes toward AI are evenly divided: roughly one‑third each are positive, negative or ambivalent. Frequency of use shapes opinion—about 80 % of daily users hold a favorable view, compared with just 24 % of those who have only dabbled.

Younger adults are more optimistic, with 41 % of people aged 18‑29 reporting a positive outlook, versus only 18 % of those 60 and older. Yet the same younger cohort feels greater workplace pressure to adopt AI tools (nearly 50 % versus about 20 % of seniors).

Political affiliation does not appear to sway perceptions; Republicans and Democrats reported similar levels of approval and concern.

Key Regulatory Priorities Among Americans

• Three‑quarters (75 %) want clear notification when they are interacting with AI.
• Nearly three‑quarters (73 %) favor prohibiting AI from exploiting personal facial or vocal data.
• Over two‑thirds (68 %) support mandatory labeling of AI‑generated images and videos.

Task‑Specific Trust Levels

• Fact‑checking: 67 % express moderate or high confidence.
• Tax preparation: 42 % feel comfortable relying on AI.
• Creative production (art or music): 57 % trust the technology.
• Co‑worker role: only 32 % show confidence.
• Retirement planning: 33 % trust AI assistance.
• Medical advice: 63 % lack trust.
• High‑school teaching: 69 % do not trust AI.
• Judicial decisions: 81 % express distrust.
• Autonomous driving: 76 % remain skeptical.

Future Outlook and Economic Concerns

Approximately 60 % of adults anticipate that AI will exacerbate economic inequality over the next ten years. A “digital dividend”—a modest monthly stipend funded by a tax on major tech firms—garners support from a majority of Republicans (52 %), Democrats (60 %) and independents (52 %).

When asked who will benefit most from AI’s rise, 40 % point to large technology corporations, fewer than 10 % expect ordinary individuals to gain power, and nearly 20 % believe the AI systems themselves will dominate.

“Capturing the national mood as people grapple with these emerging issues is essential,” said Christopher Honey, a computational cognitive neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins University and member of the university’s Data Science and AI Institute.

Rolando Masís‑Obando, also a computational neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins, added, “We aim to track these attitudes annually to observe how public opinion evolves.”

Full methodology and results are available at futurerealities.org. The data were presented at The Future of Our Realities 2026 conference held at the Hopkins Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C., with funding from a Johns Hopkins University Nexus Award.