October 28, 2026, 11:17 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Wars, disasters, and other near-cataclysms–the daily headlines in the news can be frightening. But what are people most afraid of right now? According to a survey, a topic from the tech world has surprisingly ranked high: Apparently, many people fear AI.
Americans Fear AI
This is according to the Chapman University survey on “American Fears,” conducted annually. It shows that Americans currently have a significant fear of AI. In fact, it’s the first time artificial intelligence has made it into the top 10 of the biggest concerns of the U.S. population. And quite high up: With results of 51.9 percent and 49.7 percent, AI fear ranked third and seventh.
However, it’s not just a general fear of the new technology. Specifically, it’s about the concern that AI could exert political and economic influence. As Christopher Bader, sociology professor and founder of the survey, explains, it’s not just about the dangers to jobs.
That the result is not an isolated case is further suggested by a survey from “Politico.” There, too, the majority of readers expressed concern that AI could one day wipe out all of humanity.
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AI Users Slightly Less Fearful
The right context should not be overlooked. According to Chapman University, people react more positively to new technologies when they improve, expand, or fundamentally enable things. This also applies to AI.
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Furthermore, regular use would at least somewhat affect the fear of AI. Among those who use AI at least once a week, 46 percent fear it could damage the political system. Among those who do not use AI, the figure is 55 percent. However, this is merely a correlation, not causation.
What Causes More or Less Fear Than AI
In this context, the other rankings above and below AI are also interesting: 61.1 percent of respondents fear corrupt government officials, followed by the fear of U.S. involvement in a potential Third World War.
AI, in turn, instills more fear in the American population than seeing their loved ones seriously ill or dying. Also ranked are a general economic collapse, a government tracking personal information, biological warfare, and a terrorist attack.
According to Bader, the results are unlikely to change anytime soon. He and his team expect that fear of AI will remain a significant part of national discourse for years to come.