WASHINGTON — The numbers from a new Pew Research Center poll capture a public mood that is at once anxious and punitive. The poll of 5,000 American adults, conducted from September 1 to September 15, 2024, carries a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points. Its headline finding: 56% of respondents support government seizure of AI industry wealth.
Support for seizing AI wealth fractures sharply along generational lines. Among respondents aged 18 to 34, 68% back the idea.
That number drops to 54% for those aged 35 to 49, then to 47% for the 50-to-64 bracket. Among Americans 65 and older, only 38% agree. Income tells a similar story.
Among those earning under $50,000 annually, 62% support seizure. Among households earning $100,000 or more, support falls to 48%.
Partisan divide
The partisan split is stark. Among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, 71% favor government seizure of AI industry wealth. Among Republicans and Republican leaners, that figure is 38%.
The poll also reveals a broader erosion of trust. Only 44% of respondents now hold a favorable view of the AI industry.
That is down from 52% in a similar Pew survey from March 2023.
Fear of job loss and inequality
Behind the seizure numbers lies a deeper anxiety. Seventy-two percent of all respondents say they believe AI will increase the gap between rich and poor. Sixty-five percent say they are somewhat or very worried about job loss due to AI.
The poll was released on October 15, 2024. The findings come amid a broader national debate over the economic impact of artificial intelligence, a technology that has rapidly advanced in recent years.
Major tech firms have invested billions in AI development, while policymakers in Washington and state capitals have begun grappling with questions of regulation, antitrust enforcement, and the potential for job displacement across industries. The poll results reflect a public that is increasingly skeptical of the benefits of AI, even as the technology is integrated into sectors ranging from healthcare to finance.
Wealth inequality has been a persistent and growing concern in the United States, with the gap between the highest earners and the rest of the population widening over the past several decades. The emergence of AI has intensified these worries, as studies and reports have warned that automation could disproportionately affect lower-wage workers and concentrate economic gains among a small number of companies and shareholders.
The poll’s findings on support for government seizure of AI wealth echo similar sentiments expressed in past surveys about taxation of the wealthy and corporate profits. The partisan divide on the issue is consistent with long-standing differences in how Democrats and Republicans view government intervention in the economy. Democratic voters have historically been more supportive of redistributive policies, including higher taxes on corporations and the wealthy, while Republican voters tend to favor limited government involvement and lower taxes.
The generational and income gaps in the poll also align with broader trends in public opinion, where younger and lower-income Americans are more likely to support aggressive government action to address economic disparities.
