Massachusetts voters are deeply worried about artificial intelligence, with 65% expressing more concern about its dangers than excitement over its potential to aid humanity. This widespread apprehension, particularly regarding job loss and economic disruption, comes to light in a new MassINC Polling Group survey, notably sponsored by AI giant Anthropic.
Only 16% of those surveyed expressed excitement about AI's potential to help humanity. Over a quarter of voters admit they don't use popular AI tools at all, indicating a significant segment of the population remains detached from the technology despite its growing presence.
Among the nearly two-thirds of voters concerned about AI, job loss and economic disruption top the list of worries, cited by 32%. This directly impacts the native working class, facing another wave of technological displacement. Other significant concerns include the loss of skills or overreliance on AI, and the spread of misinformation, each ranking at 16%.
Environmental impact from data centers and the misuse of AI power each accounted for 15% of voter worries. These figures paint a picture of a populace increasingly wary of the societal and ecological costs associated with rapid technological advancement.
Usage of AI tools like Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, or Microsoft Copilot is split, with 39% using them daily or a few times a week. However, 27% report not having used any such tool in the past year. Even among non-users, 80% have heard "a great deal" or "a fair amount" about AI, and 72% are at least somewhat familiar with generative AI tools.
Who Decided
Voters overwhelmingly back government oversight of AI. Fifty-nine percent believe the government should oversee AI companies deploying models with serious risks. This stands in stark contrast to the mere 23% who trust companies to police themselves, revealing a profound distrust in corporate self-regulation.
Seventy-eight percent of Massachusetts residents worry more about the dangers of failing to regulate AI than about rules slowing tech innovation. This public sentiment prioritizes safety and national well-being over the unchecked expansion of technology, directly challenging the narratives often pushed by tech interests.
Nearly half, 47%, consider it "very likely" that AI could enable catastrophic harms. These include chemical, biological, or cyberattack risks without adequate safeguards. Such threats represent a direct challenge to national security and the sovereignty of the state.
Elite Interests at Play
Awareness of local legislative efforts remains low, with just 13% having heard "a great deal" or "a fair amount" about Beacon Hill's attempts to pass AI safety rules. This lack of public knowledge about state-level action contrasts sharply with the high general awareness of AI itself, suggesting a disconnect between public concern and political transparency.
Once informed of the Legislature's intentions, 75% of voters support requiring the largest AI companies to assess catastrophic risks, publish safety plans, and report serious incidents to the attorney general. This demonstrates a clear public demand for accountability from the powerful tech sector.
Two-thirds of voters want the state to act now rather than wait for Washington to assemble federal guidelines. This preference for immediate, local action over centralized federal directives underscores a desire for self-determination and a rejection of the slow, often compromised, federal apparatus. The poll's sponsorship by AI giant Anthropic raises questions about the influence of elite tech interests in shaping the public discourse around AI regulation.