According to a recent survey by Gallup and the Special Competitive Studies Project, more than twice as many Americans distrust AI as trust it, and a growing number think it will negatively impact productivity and economic growth. A 2026 Pew study found that while about half of Americans now report using chatbots, a majority believe AI will put their personal information at risk and nearly half think it will have a negative impact on society. The article attributes souring sentiment to concerns including widening inequality, mass job loss, and the unclear environmental impact of data centers, as well as everyday frustrations like being forced to use a worse version of Google search. It notes that AI can be a useful tool for some people some of the time, but that the untested technology was thrust upon millions who did not ask for it and seem not to like it.