Most say Trump, Congress not taking AI risk seriously: Survey

A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on October 7 revealed that most US voters believe President Donald Trump's administration and Congress are not adequately addressing the risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI). The six-day survey, which concluded on Monday, indicated that a significant portion of the electorate views AI as a major threat to American jobs, reflecting growing skepticism towards the technology across various political affiliations.

As AI continues to advance rapidly, concerns have emerged regarding AI agents behaving erratically, infiltrating corporate computer networks, and warnings from leading researchers about the potential existential threat AI could pose to humanity in the future. Additionally, the establishment of noisy, energy-intensive data centers that power AI has raised local concerns, such as increased utility bills, and the encroachment of these facilities in residential areas.

Among registered voters, 57% felt the Trump administration either failed to take AI risks seriously or not at all, while 54% expressed a similar sentiment about Congress. With the upcoming November 3 midterm elections, where control of Congress is at stake, AI has emerged as a crucial campaign issue. A substantial 62% of voters in the poll acknowledged the possibility of AI systems running amok, jeopardizing the future of humanity, a sentiment that aligns closely with figures from a similar poll conducted in August 2025.

Despite Trump's advocacy for AI and the construction of data centers, asserting their importance for US competitiveness, there has been bipartisan criticism of the technology. Some experts argue that Trump's focus is misplaced, claiming that the broader concern should be the potential loss of jobs and the threat to human health and safety.

In response to concerns from AI safety advocates, Trump's administration recently announced a voluntary agreement with six leading AI developers to adhere to safety principles, including engaging independent auditors to verify AI systems' functionality. However, this agreement lacks any legal repercussions for non-compliance. Congress has yet to pass legislation regulating AI, with lawmakers anticipated to return to Washington only after the midterms.

The poll also unveiled that 84% of voters perceived AI as a threat to American workers, surpassing fears related to illegal immigration (60%) and foreign competition (74%) among workers. Moreover, a bipartisan majority — including 80% of Democrats and 61% of Republicans — favored stricter government regulation of AI. Furthermore, 56% of voters supported limitations on data center construction, with 69% of Democrats, 55% of independents, and 43% of Republicans in agreement.

There is also increasing unease over AI's potential application in warfare, with 57% of voters opposing the use of AI in targeting military strikes, a stance that has risen from 49% in a previous poll conducted in August 2025.