(NewsUSA) - Americans across the political spectrum agree on how the country should approach artificial intelligence, according to a new report by Gallup and the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), a nonprofit and nonpartisan initiative with a goal of making recommendations to strengthen America's long-term competitiveness in artificial intelligence.
In the report, "Looking to the Future: American Priorities for AI in 2026," majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and independents similarly endorsed survey responses on the need for education and regulation regarding the use of AI. The report was based on a nationally representative survey of more than 3,000 U.S. adults conducted online in June 2026 using Gallup’s U.S. panel.
"The key finding in this year's data is that Republicans, Democrats, and independents want the same things: teach STEM, train workers on the job, put safety and security ahead of speed, and let independent experts test these systems before the public depends on them," said Ylli Bajraktari, president of SCSP. "America's edge in this competition will not come from adoption alone; it will come from a public that has reason to trust what it is adopting,” he said.
Americans’ concerns about the impact of AI on the job market persist, with 70% stating that AI will destroy more jobs than it creates over the next decade, respondents consistently supported the need for AI education.
Notably, 72% respondents support promoting STEM education as a channel to train workers to use AI in their future jobs, and 66% support creating on-the-job training programs that teach AI skills. However, respondents overall were split on adding AI skills to core K-12 classes such as reading or math, with 45% in support and 44% opposed.
In terms of security, 79% of respondents say the government should maintain safety and data-security rules even if such rules slow AI development, compared to 7% who would prioritize speed. Approximately two-thirds (60%) of respondents agreed that the U.S. government should create AI regulations, and 75% favored testing and evaluation of new AI systems by independent experts before such systems are widely disseminated.
On preparing the workforce, 72% of Americans support promoting STEM education to equip workers with the skills to use AI in their future jobs, and 66% support creating on-the-job training programs that teach workers AI skills. Republicans, Democrats, and independents express similar levels of support for both. Opinions remain split on adding AI skills to core K-12 classes like math or reading, with 45% in support and 44% opposed.
Half of the respondents (51%) say they use AI at least sometimes at work, school, or in their personal lives, up from 39% in 2025. Two in three (68%) describe themselves as knowledgeable about AI, up from 60% last year. The new report also shows increased trust among regular AI users since last year, but increased skepticism among non-users.
"The public is becoming more experienced with AI while simultaneously becoming more cautious about its economic implications," said Gallup Principal, Justin Lall. "That combination of firsthand use and lingering concern makes workforce preparation more important than ever."
The data suggest room for compromise where attitudes towards AI diverge among parties. Republican respondents were more likely to favor mandatory age requirements, increasing AI in manufacturing, increasing energy production for AI systems, and reducing AI regulation. Democrat respondents were more likely to favor increasing government funding for AI research at colleges and universities. However, a majority of respondents across parties showed similar support for allowing companies and universities to use government resources for AI research.
Visit scsp.ai to view the full report and learn more.
- Americans across the political spectrum agree on how the country should approach artificial intelligence, according to a new report by Gallup and the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), a nonprofit and nonpartisan initiative with a goal of making recommendations to strengthen America's long-term competitiveness in artificial intelligence.
