SouthernWorldwide.com – A recent Fox News poll reveals a significant shift in American voter sentiment, with a growing number perceiving Big Tech as a greater threat to the nation’s future than big government.
The poll indicates that 52% of voters view Big Tech as the primary concern, compared to 47% who hold the same view about big government. This represents a substantial reversal from 2019, a mere three years before the widespread adoption of AI technologies like ChatGPT, when 58% of voters were more concerned about government overreach and only 35% about tech companies.
This increased apprehension towards Big Tech is evident across most demographic groups. Notable exceptions include very conservative voters and mothers, who, by significant margins, still consider big government the larger threat. Republicans and independent voters remain divided on which entity poses the greater risk.
Democratic pollster Chris Anderson, who conducted the poll with Republican Daron Shaw, commented on this evolving perception. He suggests that as artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into daily life, voters are recalibrating their understanding of where power truly lies. Concerns previously directed at government overreach are now increasingly focused on tech companies, as the public grapples with the concentration of power in institutions that often operate with limited public accountability.
Public opinion on AI itself remains a mixed landscape. An equal percentage of respondents, 14% each, describe AI as either innovative and helpful or as a bad idea. A further 12% express caution, while 10% admit to feeling afraid or considering it dangerous. Mixed feelings are reported by 9% of voters, with excitement and curiosity each registering at 7%.
Fewer voters cited specific concerns such as threats to jobs (5%), general confusion (4%), potential for abuse (3%), and issues related to privacy and regulation (2% each). Very small percentages mentioned fears of science fiction scenarios (1%) or preventing data center construction (1%).
The proportion of individuals who express fear or perceive AI as dangerous has decreased from 16% in 2023 to 10% currently. This sentiment decline is observed across most demographics, with a clear exception being voters aged 65 and older, a group that largely continues to express fear, concern, or general dislike of AI.
Concurrently, there has been a modest increase in the number of people who feel cautious or distrustful of this rapidly advancing technology, rising from 8% in 2023 to 12% today.
On a more positive note, the percentage of individuals who find AI to be innovative and helpful has doubled, from 7% in 2023 to 14% in the current poll. While most demographic groups have shown a more positive outlook towards AI compared to last year, this trend is particularly pronounced among voters under the age of 30 and nonwhite voters, both of whom have reported double-digit increases in positive sentiment.
The daily usage of AI technology is also on the rise. Currently, 18% of voters report using AI every day, a notable increase from 11% in June of the previous year.
This growth in daily AI usage is primarily driven by an increase in men and independent voters reporting such use, with gains of 10 and 13 percentage points respectively since June 2025. Despite their general skepticism, older voters aged 65 and over are also using AI more frequently, showing a 4-point increase. Daily usage among voters under 30 has also seen a significant rise of 8 percentage points since the summer of 2025.
However, a substantial portion of voters still report rarely (21%) or never (32%) using AI, a figure that has remained relatively stable compared to the previous summer.
Voters express strong opposition to the construction of AI infrastructure, specifically data centers, in their local areas. A significant two-thirds (67%) of respondents oppose having data centers in their vicinity, with 43% strongly opposing the idea. Conversely, one-third of voters (32%) favor their development.
While most demographic groups are against data centers, the intensity of this opposition varies. Fewer than 60% of men, Hispanic voters, voters under 30, and Republicans oppose data centers. Opposition climbs to approximately 70% or higher among women, White voters, those aged 65 and above, and Democrats.
The few groups that express a preference for data centers being built are those who find AI innovative (68% favor) and those who utilize AI at least weekly (54%).
“The emergence of AI data centers as a political issue is one of the most compelling narratives of 2026,” stated Shaw. He added that while opposing them might offer short-term political gains, public attitudes regarding AI’s effectiveness and regulation remain in flux.
Despite the mixed feelings surrounding AI, a vast majority of voters (79%) remain confident that they are in control of technology, rather than technology controlling them. This sentiment has remained remarkably consistent for nearly three decades.
Women, voters aged 65 and older, and Republicans are slightly more inclined to believe they maintain control over technology when compared to men, younger voters under 30, and Democrats.
