Chapman University's 2026 survey reveals that fears about AI interfering in elections and harming the economy have entered the top 10 American fears for the first time, alongside enduring concerns about corrupt officials.
01Summary
- 01The survey of 1,221 US adults was conducted online in April 2026 by NORC at the University of Chicago for Chapman University.
- 02Corrupt government officials remain the top fear at 61.1%, unchanged from 2025.
- 03AI harming the election process ranks third, and AI harming the economy ranks seventh in the top 10 fears.
- 04Other AI-related fears include AI hurting the environment (43.2%), harming personal relationships (42%) and replacing workers (42%).
- 05Fears of government tracking of personal data (48.9%) and cyberterrorism (45.7%) also feature prominently.
02Why it matters
With midterm elections approaching, the high ranking of AI interference fears underscores growing public concern about the integrity of the political process and the broader economic impact of the technology.
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