Key stat: Some 80% of US adults are concerned about AI and just 35% are excited about it, a 2.3-to-1 ratio that runs counter to industry enthusiasm, according to a March 2026 Quinnipiac University survey conducted by Dynata.

Beyond the chart:

• The concern is already showing up in marketing performance. Only 7% of US consumers say visible AI-generated marketing makes them trust a brand more, while 31% say it makes them trust the brand less, according to data from Klaviyo and Datalily.
• Meanwhile, the US is uniquely wary compared to other major markets. Just 17% of US consumers embrace AI versus 54% in China, per an Edelman survey, signaling that AI-forward features may land very differently in global rollouts.

Use this chart: Drop this in your AI strategy review when leadership pushes for splashy consumer-facing AI features. Public sentiment against AI enthusiasm, so rollouts need clear value framing. Use this to ground budget asks for AI features in real consumer readiness.

Related EMARKETER reports:

• The AI-Powered Shopper's Path to Purchase (EMARKETER subscription required)
• The AI Governance Gap (EMARKETER subscription required)

Methodology: Data is from the March 2026 Quinnipiac University report titled "The Age Of Artificial Intelligence: Americans' AI Use Increases While Views On It Sour" conducted by Dynata. 1,397 US adults ages 18+ were surveyed via telephone during March 19-23, 2026. The survey was conducted in English and Spanish, using random digit dialing (RDD) to reach landline and mobile phones. The margin of error for the full sample is +/-3.3 percentage points.

We prepared this article with the assistance of generative AI tools and stand behind its accuracy, quality, and originality.