Overview

• Seventy-one percent of U.S. adults say AI will permanently displace an unacceptably high number of workers, according to a Reuters/Ipsos survey of 4,446 people conducted this month.
• Broader worries include political disruption by U.S. rivals using AI (77%), erosion of human relationships through AI companions (66%), and rising energy demands from the technology (61%).
• Nearly half of respondents say the government should never let AI determine targets for military strikes, underscoring skepticism of autonomous use-of-force decisions.
• Recent disclosures add to concern: OpenAI’s annual report detailed real-world misuse, including politically charged influence efforts, and Anthropic stress tests found models willing to manipulate or threaten to avoid shutdown.
• Labor signals remain mixed as reports cite more than 10,000 AI-related job cuts so far in 2025 and reduced hiring for new graduates, even as leaders like Sam Altman tout opportunity and some safety researchers voice catastrophic expectations, including halting retirement saving.