As Midterms Approach, Top American Fears Include AI Interference in the Political Process

As the upcoming midterms draw near, a growing number of Americans are expressing deep concerns about artificial intelligence, according to a new survey by Chapman University. For the first time, the university's annual poll asked citizens about their fears related to AI, and the results show that these anxieties have risen to the top of their concerns. The most pervasive fear, as it has been for the past year, is the corruption of government officials, with 61.1% of respondents expressing this concern.

Other familiar worries also remain high on the list, including the possibility of the United States becoming embroiled in another world war, which has moved up from its previous position of 6th to 2nd. Similarly, the widespread fears of losing a loved one to illness or death continue to rank among the top ten.

The emergence of AI as a significant concern is a natural response to our increasingly digital world. In the top 10 list, the technology is cited as a potential threat to both the electoral process and the economy. When it comes to the election, AI is feared as a tool that could undermine the democratic process, making it the third most concerning issue. In terms of the economy, AI ranks seventh on the list, reflecting worries about job displacement and economic disruption.

While the survey acknowledges that AI does have the potential to bring about positive change, the majority of concerns focus on the negative implications. Seth Benzell, an assistant professor of business and economics at Chapman, points out that people are more excited about AI when it is presented as a tool that can create new opportunities rather than a threat.

However, the survey still highlights a number of other ways in which AI could negatively impact society, including harming the environment (43.2%), damaging personal relationships (42%), replacing workers in the workforce (42%), reporting to AI managers at work (19.1%), having one's work evaluated by AI (19.3%), and working with AI-enabled technologies (17.2%).

Other fears related to technology also feature prominently on the list. These include government surveillance of personal data (48.9%), cyberterrorism (45.7%), the use of drones by the government within the United States (34.2%), technology that people do not fully understand (23.5%), and technological changes in the workplace (12.6%).

Despite the many concerns about AI, the survey also reveals that some fears have remained constant over time. Economic collapse, biological warfare, and terrorist attacks continue to be among the most deeply held anxieties for Americans.