Americans Fearful: AI Could Permanently Take Millions of Jobs!

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a topic that is reshaping the world, raising many questions and fears in the US. According to a new poll by Reuters and Ipsos, which ran for six days and ended on August 19, 2025, a large proportion of Americans fear that this technology will change the labor market forever. The poll included 4,446 adult respondents from across the United States and has a margin of error of around 2 percentage points. Let's look at the details revealed by the poll and other related information that helps explain the broader context.

Key Poll Finding: Fear of Permanent Job Loss

The poll found that 71% of respondents fear AI will cause too many people to lose their jobs permanently. This is a huge figure that shows how deeply concerned people are about the future of their employment. Technologies such as OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot, which was released in 2022 and became the fastest-growing application of all time, opened the door to major changes. Large companies such as Meta Platforms, Alphabet (Google's owner), and Microsoft quickly followed suit and launched their own AI products.

Although the US unemployment rate was only 4.2% in July 2025, which does not indicate mass job losses, concerns persist. Other survey data, such as that from the World Economic Forum (WEF), estimates that AI will create 97 million new jobs by 2025 while eliminating 85 million existing ones. That means a net gain of 12 million jobs globally, but in the US it could result in major shifts in fields such as marketing, administration, and manufacturing. For example, a 2023 ResumeBuilder survey found that 37% of employers had already laid off workers due to AI automation, and companies such as Duolingo and Amazon plan to replace certain roles with this technology.

Concerns About Political Chaos and Other Risks

Americans are concerned not only about jobs but also about politics. As many as 77% of respondents fear AI could be misused to cause political chaos. This is related to how the technology is used to create realistic videos of fabricated events. For example, President Donald Trump shared an AI-generated video on social media last month in which former President Barack Obama was arrested—an event that never happened. Such examples show how AI can spread misinformation.

Another major concern is the military use of AI. According to the poll, 48% of people say the government should never use AI to select targets for military strikes, while only 24% support it and 28% are unsure. In addition, 61% of respondents are concerned about the enormous amount of electricity AI requires. Google recently announced agreements with two US energy companies to reduce the power consumption of its data centers during peak periods. And 66% of people are concerned that people will replace real relationships with AI companions, reflecting criticism that AI bots engage in romantic conversations with children or spread false medical information.

AI Is Transforming Education and the Labor Market

The poll also addressed education: 36% of respondents believe AI will improve it, while 40% disagree and the rest are unsure. In the labor market, occupations affected by AI are seeing skill requirements change 66 percent faster than traditional roles. Interestingly, the share of jobs requiring a university degree fell from 66% to 59% between 2019 and 2024, suggesting that AI is opening doors to more people without formal education.

Further investments in AI, such as Foxconn and SoftBank's planned data center equipment factory in Ohio, show that the technology is growing rapidly. The US and China are competing for dominance in AI, which is influencing national security policies. Experts, including the White House AI adviser, do not expect a "huge wave of unemployment" due to AI alone, but emphasize the need for adaptation.

Implications for the Future

This Reuters/Ipsos poll, reported by journalists Jason Lange and Alexandra Alper, underscores that while AI brings innovation, it also raises deep concerns. People fear not only job losses but also broader impacts on society. Nevertheless, the data suggests that AI can create new opportunities if workers adapt. In the US, demand is growing for roles such as machine learning engineer, with the country accounting for nearly 30 percent of all new AI job postings globally. It is important to monitor how these trends develop in order to minimize risks and maximize benefits.