Democrats and Republicans are finding common ground on AI concerns

In short: People on both the left and the right in US politics are increasingly uneasy about artificial intelligence, and they are starting to agree on what worries them.

What's going on

Concerns about AI are showing up across the political spectrum. Democrats often point to safety, privacy, and the environmental costs of AI, like the water and electricity used by large data centers (warehouses full of computers). Many Republicans focus on job losses and what they see as political slant in popular AI chatbots.

Public distrust is also showing up in polling. A 2025 Gallup poll found 60% of Americans distrust AI somewhat or fully, citing fears like safety risks, job displacement, environmental harm, and misuse. Another poll from NBC News, taken after a controversy involving AI company Anthropic and the Pentagon, found 57% of voters said AI risks outweigh its benefits.

Lawmakers are reacting, too. More than 1,500 AI-related bills were introduced in US state legislatures in 2026, many aimed at protecting consumers and minors. Military use has become a flashpoint, with Anthropic reportedly pushing back on Pentagon terms tied to mass surveillance of US citizens and autonomous weapons (weapons that can choose targets on their own).

What to watch

Expect more pressure for clear rules on how AI is tested for safety and how companies address bias. If trust keeps dropping, politicians from both parties may support stricter limits on where AI can be used, especially in policing, surveillance, and the military.

Source: NYTimes