{
  "id": 8043288,
  "title": "Nebraskans wary of risks surrounding artificial intelligence",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/nebraskans-wary-of-risks-surrounding-artificial-intelligence",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-17T15:00:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-09-nebraskans-wary-artificial-intelligence.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "As America grapples with the rapid development of artificial intelligence and the construction of supporting data centers, skepticism regarding its benefits in society has grown. According to a new Nebraska Snapshot, a majority of Nebraskans - nearly three out of four - view the risks of AI as high or very high. Significantly fewer, less than one in five, perceive the benefits of AI as high or very high. The survey, conducted by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's Bureau of Sociological Research, reveals that younger respondents and those with higher education levels are slightly more confident about AI benefits. However, they are also more skeptical of the risks. Men, younger adults, and employed individuals are more likely to rate both the benefits and risks of AI as high or very high compared to their counterparts. Democrats and independents express more reservations about AI compared to their Republican peers. The Nebraska Annual Social Indicators Survey, which includes questions about AI for the first time, found that nearly three-quarters of Nebraskans view AI's societal risks as high or very high, while fewer than one in five rate its benefits similarly. The survey's findings provide insight into Nebraskans' perceptions of AI, with men, younger adults, and employed individuals tending to view both benefits and risks more positively, while Democrats and independents express greater concerns about AI risks.",
  "summary": "Americans are grappling with artificial intelligence—from its lightning-fast development to the construction of data centers to support it—and are becoming more skeptical of its benefits.",
  "key_points": [
    "Nearly three-quarters of Nebraskans view AI risks as high or very high",
    "Fewer than one in five see AI benefits as high or very high",
    "Younger respondents, higher education, men, employed more confident in AI benefits"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}