Many voters believe that artificial intelligence needs more regulation, according to a poll from The Center Square released Tuesday.
The new survey shows that 45% of registered U.S. voters believe there is currently “too little” government regulation on AI technology. Meanwhile, just 13% of voters thought there was “too much” government regulation of AI, compared to 23% who said there was “about the right amount.”
Roughly 37% of self-identified Republicans felt that there was “too little” government regulation for AI, while 53% of Democrats said the same, the poll shows. About 41% of true independent voters thought there was “too little” government regulation of the technology.
The poll also found that about 55% of voters older than 65 agreed there is “too little” regulation on AI, compared to 37% of respondents ages 18 to 29 who said the same.
“It’s a classic thing of generational differences,” Noble Predictive Insights Founder Mike Noble told The Center Square. “There’s a big gap between the two on their technological experience.”
The poll comes amid nationwide backlash against AI data centers over apparently surging energy costs. Seven in 10 Americans oppose constructing new AI data centers in their local area, including 48% who are strongly opposed, according to a Gallup survey released in May.
On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives will consider legislation that would mandate technology companies pay for the energy costs from AI data centers, CNBC reported.
The Center Square’s poll was conducted by Noble Predictive Insights from June 1-4 among 2,585 respondents. The sample included 915 Republicans, 1,013 Democrats and 297 true independents, which refers to individuals who do not lean toward either major political party when asked.
(DCNF)
