53% of Americans fear AI could take their jobs, poll finds

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 53% of Americans fear AI could eliminate jobs for themselves or someone in their household. The survey of 4,531 U.S. adults, conducted over six days, highlights widespread anxiety across age, gender, and education levels, though Democrats expressed more concern than Republicans. The findings coincide with companies accelerating AI investments while cutting workforces, including Intuit’s recent announcement to lay off 17% of its global staff to focus on AI-driven operations. The poll follows a wave of AI-related job cuts, with U.S. employers announcing 60,620 layoffs in March, a quarter attributed to AI adoption, according to a Challenger, Gray & Christmas report. Last year, Klarna reduced its workforce by 40%, and Ford’s CEO predicted AI could replace half of all white-collar jobs in the U.S. Freelance writer Jennifer Schalhoub, 62, lost her job drafting policy advocacy letters, suspecting AI played a role in her employer’s decision. AI’s rapid expansion has sparked broader cultural backlash, with concerns over its use in political propaganda, entertainment, and warfare. Pope Leo XIV’s May 25 encyclicals warned of AI’s unchecked acceleration, calling for greater political oversight. University of Arizona students booed former Google CEO Eric Schmidt during a graduation speech on AI’s impact, reflecting growing skepticism. Hiring challenges for young professionals have worsened, with 76% of employers reporting fewer or unchanged entry-level roles in 2025, up from 69% in 2024, per a Cengage Group survey. A Federal Reserve Bank of New York study found 42% of recent college graduates are underemployed, the highest rate since 2020. While AI isn’t the sole factor, experts like Peter Watkins of the CFA Institute suggest it contributes to workforce reductions by offering cost-cutting solutions for businesses. The poll underscores a divide between AI’s potential benefits and its disruptive impact on employment, particularly for entry-level and mid-career workers. As companies prioritize AI-driven efficiency, concerns about job security and societal equity continue to grow, prompting calls for regulation and ethical safeguards.