Science & Tech · AI · 2 hrs ago
AI concerns rank among Americans’ top 10 fears for the first time
A Chapman University survey found AI fears among Americans’ top 10 for the first time in 2026.
The online survey asked more than 1,200 U.S. adults about their fears.
Fear that AI could harm the political process ranked third, behind government corruption and the U.S. becoming involved in a world war.
Concern that AI could hurt the economy also made the top 10, at seventh place.
The survey’s margin of error means the exact ranking of fears from third to tenth is uncertain.
AI was the only issue listed twice, showing that worries extend beyond job losses to the technology’s effects on politics and the economy.
Researchers expect AI concerns to remain part of public debate as the technology becomes more common.
Artificial intelligence concerns ranked among Americans’ top 10 fears for the first time in Chapman University’s 2026 survey.
Fear that AI would harm the political process ranked third among 1,200 adults surveyed.
Concern that AI would harm the economy ranked seventh, making AI the only issue appearing twice in the top 10.
Government corruption ranked first, followed by the U.S. becoming involved in a world war.
The survey also found that fears of biological warfare and terrorist attacks ranked ninth and tenth.
- Who
- About 1,200 American adults who took part in Chapman University’s survey.
- What
- AI-related concerns ranked third and seventh among Americans’ fears.
- When
- The online survey ran from April 7 to April 21, 2026.
- Where
- United States.
- Why
- The survey measured Americans’ fears; respondents cited concerns including AI’s effects on politics and the economy.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Chapman University began conducting its annual Survey of American Fears.
Chapman University conducted the online survey.
Articles reported the survey’s findings, including the ranking of AI-related fears.
- Political process
- AI harming the political process ranked third.
- Economy
- AI harming the economy ranked seventh.
- Government corruption
- Ranked first; cited by 61.1 percent of respondents.
- World war
- U.S. involvement in a world war ranked second.
- Biological warfare
- Ranked ninth.
- Terrorist attacks
- Ranked tenth.
3 sources
What people are saying
We expect concerns about AI to remain a significant part of the national conversation in the years ahead.
The recent conflict with Iran appears to have influenced Americans’ concerns about global conflict.
People’s fears about AI are much broader than concerns about automation or job displacement.
What I’m seeing more and more over time is that our fear about our loved ones is going to always be there, no matter what’s going on in the world.