US Voters Demand Tougher AI Rules as Poll Finds Concerns Over Trump and Congress
US voters express growing concern over AI risks and demand stronger government regulation.
Most US voters believe the Trump administration and Congress are not doing enough to address the risks posed by artificial intelligence, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll.
The six-day nationwide survey found that 57% of registered voters believe the Trump administration has not taken AI risks seriously enough or at all. Another 54% expressed the same view about Congress.
The findings highlight growing public concern about AI as the technology advances rapidly. Voters are increasingly focused on its potential impact on jobs, public safety, data-centre development and national security.
AI Emerges as Major Election Issue
AI has become an important issue ahead of the November 3 US midterm elections, when control of Congress will be contested.
The poll found that 62% of voters believe AI could get out of control and threaten the future of humanity. That figure remains broadly similar to a Reuters/Ipsos survey conducted in August 2025.
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Job security is an even wider concern. About 84% of voters said AI poses a threat to American workers. By comparison, 74% cited competition from foreign workers, 73% pointed to large corporations and 60% identified illegal immigration as threats to US workers.
Bipartisan Support for AI Regulation
The survey showed significant support for stronger government oversight.
Around 80% of Democrats and 61% of Republicans said they support stricter government regulation of AI. The results indicate that concerns about the technology extend across party lines.
Trump has repeatedly promoted AI development and the construction of data centres. His administration has argued that maintaining US technological leadership remains essential, particularly amid competition with China.
The White House pointed to a new AI task force when responding to Reuters about voters’ concerns. An administration official also said the government wants to ensure strong economic growth and employment opportunities as AI changes the labour market.
Data Centres Face Growing Opposition
Public concern also extends to the infrastructure required to power AI systems.
The poll found that 56% of voters support limits on data-centre construction. Support reached 69% among Democrats, 55% among independents and 43% among Republicans.
Large data centres consume significant amounts of electricity and can affect local communities through higher infrastructure demands and utility costs. Their expansion has therefore become an issue in several congressional and state-level races.
Limited Federal Action on AI
Despite calls for stronger safeguards from politicians across the political spectrum, Congress has yet to agree on comprehensive legislation governing AI.
Trump recently announced voluntary safety principles involving major AI companies, including Nvidia, SpaceX, OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta and Alphabet’s Google. The agreement includes measures such as independent audits, but it does not establish stated penalties for companies that fail to comply.
The debate has also expanded to military applications. About 57% of voters said the US government should not use AI to determine the target of a military strike. That compares with 49% in a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in August 2025.
Poll Shows Broad Public Unease
The Reuters/Ipsos survey was conducted online nationwide among 4,506 US adults, including 3,526 registered voters. The reported margin of error is two percentage points.
The results show that Americans’ concerns about AI now extend well beyond questions about technological competition. Jobs, safety, regulation, infrastructure and military use have all become part of the wider debate over how the technology should develop.
