A recent poll conducted by Quinnipiac University found that individuals are taking an increasingly pessimistic view of artificial intelligence despite its rise in use and are growing more opposed to data centers.
Of the 1,397 American adults who answered the March 2026 poll, 76 percent believe they can trust AI either “hardly ever” or “only some of the time,” while 80 percent are either “very concerned” or “somewhat concerned” about AI. This concern appears consistent across all adult age groups (born 1928 – 2008).
Only 35 percent reported being “very excited” or “somewhat excited” about artificial intelligence.
Sixty-five percent of Americans polled opposed “the building of an AI data center in their community,” with 72 percent citing “electricity costs,” 64 percent citing “water use,” and 41 percent citing “noise” as a reason for their opposition.
Gen Z participants seem to be the most pessimistic about AI’s role in the future job market, with 81 percent stating they believed the technology would lead to a decrease in job opportunities. The belief in a decrease of opportunities lessened as age increased, according to the poll.
According to the poll, 51 percent of respondents stated they used AI for “researching topics they are curious about,” up from 37 percent in April 2025, and 27 percent stated it was for school or work projects, up from 24 percent in April 2025. Some reported using the technology for medical and personal advice and even companionship. Participants stating “they had never used AI” dropped 6 percent from a poll taken in April 2025.
A majority of Americans stated they felt “very confident” or “somewhat confident” that they could tell the difference between AI and an authentic recording or video; however, 3 in 10 Americans polled reported having sent a video they later discovered was AI.
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