A new report by Gallup and the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), a nonprofit and nonpartisan initiative aimed at strengthening America’s long-term competitiveness in artificial intelligence, reveals that Americans across the political spectrum largely agree on how the country should approach AI. The report, titled Looking to the Future: American Priorities for AI in 2026, is based on a nationally representative online survey of more than 3,000 U.S. adults conducted in June 2026 using Gallup’s U.S. panel.
According to the findings, majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and independents similarly endorsed the need for education and regulation regarding AI use. Ylli Bajraktari, president of SCSP, said, “The key finding in this year’s data is that Republicans, Democrats, and independents want the same things: teach STEM, train workers on the job, put safety and security ahead of speed, and let independent experts test these systems before the public depends on them.” He added that America’s edge in the AI competition will not come from adoption alone but from a public that has reason to trust what it is adopting.
Concerns about AI’s impact on the job market persist, with 70% of respondents stating that AI will destroy more jobs than it creates over the next decade. Nevertheless, there is strong support for AI education: 72% support promoting STEM education to train workers to use AI in future jobs, and 66% support creating on-the-job training programs that teach AI skills. Republicans, Democrats, and independents express similar levels of support for both. However, opinions are split on adding AI skills to core K-12 classes such as reading or math, with 45% in support and 44% opposed.
On security, 79% of respondents say the government should maintain safety and data-security rules even if such rules slow AI development, compared to just 7% who would prioritize speed. Approximately 60% agreed that the U.S. government should create AI regulations, and 75% favored testing and evaluation of new AI systems by independent experts before widespread dissemination.
The report also shows that AI use is becoming more common. Half of the respondents (51%) say they use AI at least sometimes at work, school, or in their personal lives, up from 39% in 2025. Two in three (68%) describe themselves as knowledgeable about AI, up from 60% last year. Increased trust among regular AI users since last year is offset by increased skepticism among non-users. “The public is becoming more experienced with AI while simultaneously becoming more cautious about its economic implications,” said Gallup Principal Justin Lall. “That combination of firsthand use and lingering concern makes workforce preparation more important than ever.”
While attitudes diverge on some issues, the data suggest room for compromise. Republican respondents were more likely to favor mandatory age requirements, increasing AI in manufacturing, increasing energy production for AI systems, and reducing AI regulation. Democratic respondents were more likely to favor increasing government funding for AI research at colleges and universities. However, a majority across parties showed similar support for allowing companies and universities to use government resources for AI research. The full report is available at scsp.ai.
