AI worries are rising, but they are not yet a top midterm issue

In short: Americans say they worry about AI and want rules for it, but most midterm campaigns are still talking more about other issues.

What's going on

Polls suggest many Americans are uneasy about AI. An Ipsos poll found more than 60 percent of both Republicans and Democrats agree the government should regulate AI for economic stability and public safety, and that AI development should slow down.

Even with those concerns, experts say AI is not yet one of the issues voters bring up first. Ipsos pollster Alec Tyson told The Verge that when people are asked what is on their mind, topics like the economy and immigration usually come first. He compared it to a crowded conversation where only a few topics get most of the attention, unless something feels urgent nationwide.

At the local level, fights over AI-related building projects are already happening. Communities have pushed back on data centers, which are large buildings full of computers that power online services (think of them like giant warehouses for the internet). A group called Data Center Watch says opposition has blocked or delayed $64 billion worth of data center development.

Money is also flowing into politics around AI. The Verge reports that super PACs (political groups that can raise and spend large sums to influence elections) are backing different sides. Leading the Future has raised $140 million, according to Axios, and Public First Action has $50 million cash on hand, including $20 million from Anthropic.

What to watch

Job loss could make AI a bigger election issue soon. The Alliance for Secure AI runs a tracker that counts over 110,000 US job losses attributed to AI so far, including 30,000 layoffs at Oracle. If more layoffs spread beyond tech into everyday office work, candidates may be forced to talk about AI more directly.

Source: The Verge AI