60% of Americans want AI companies to pay for lost jobs
A major poll shows most Americans don't buy Big Tech's 'AI helps everyone' pitch and want companies held responsible for displaced workers.
A new poll from David Shor's Blue Rose Research paints a stark picture: most Americans aren't buying the tech industry's promise that AI will lift all boats. Nearly 60% of respondents said the government should help workers displaced by AI — rather than give tech companies more incentives to keep building it.
The trust gap is enormous
The poll tested how Americans respond to common AI industry talking points — and the results are devastating for Big Tech's PR playbook.
"AI will create productivity that benefits everyone" → Net trust rating: -20
"AI will not cause widespread job losses" → Net trust rating: -41
That second number is striking. A net trust score of -41 means that for every person who believes AI won't kill jobs, roughly three people think it will. The industry's most common reassurance isn't just falling flat — it's actively backfiring.
Who should bear the cost?
When asked whether tech companies should face financial consequences for eliminating American jobs with AI, 55% agreed — nearly double the number who supported unrestricted corporate profits from AI. This wasn't just a partisan issue. Among voters who supported Kamala Harris in 2024, 67% wanted government aid for displaced workers. But even among Trump voters, the number was 50% — a clear majority.
By the numbers
AI is climbing the political ladder — fast
Here's what might worry tech executives the most: AI currently ranks 29th out of 39 issues American voters care about. That sounds low — until you learn it's risen faster than any other issue in the past year, leapfrogging guns, climate change, abortion, and child care in importance.
In other words, AI isn't a top-tier political issue yet. But it's on a trajectory to become one, and the public mood is skeptical.
A broader crisis of economic trust
The AI skepticism doesn't exist in a vacuum. The poll reveals deep economic anxiety across the board:
- Nearly two-thirds said their lives became less affordable in the past year
- Only 25% feel confident about their financial future
- 64% believe the system is "rigged for the elite"
- Over half say corporations raise prices unfairly
Against this backdrop, the AI industry's message of "trust us, this will benefit everyone" lands on deeply hostile ground. People who already feel the economy is rigged aren't inclined to believe that the next wave of automation will somehow be different.
What this signals for AI companies
The data suggests a window is closing. Right now, AI policy ranks low enough on the political priority list that companies have room to shape the conversation. But public opinion is hardening — and it's hardening against them.
For anyone working in AI or building AI-powered products, these numbers are a reality check. The technology's beneficiaries can see the upside clearly. But the vast majority of Americans see a machine that makes the rich richer — and they want someone held accountable before it's too late.
Source: Gizmodo, reporting on David Shor's Blue Rose Research polling data.
Related Content — Get Started with Easy Claude Code | Free Learning Guides | More AI News
Stay updated on AI news
Simple explanations of the latest AI developments