GoKawiilChapman University survey: AI election interference ranks among top US fears for 2026
Chapman University's 12th annual American Fears survey, conducted with NORC at the University of Chicago among 1,221 adults in April, added AI-related questions for the first time. Fear of AI harming the political process ranked third overall at 51.9%, while fear of AI hurting the economy ranked seventh at 49.7%, both entering the top 10 alongside long-standing fears like corrupt government officials, which topped the list at 61.1%.
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The survey suggests AI anxiety has become embedded in how Americans view core institutions like elections and the economy, not just as an abstract technological worry. With midterm elections approaching, the researchers' framing implies public trust in democratic processes could be increasingly shaped by perceptions of AI misuse, such as disinformation or manipulation, though the survey itself doesn't establish causation.
- AI harming the political process ranked as the third-biggest American fear in 2026, a new entry.
- Fear of AI hurting the economy also entered the top 10, ranked seventh.
- Corrupt government officials remained the top overall fear at 61.1%, unchanged from 2025's top rank.
Source: cnet.com — Blake Stimac, 2026-10-20
Published there as: “As Midterms Approach, Top American Fears Include AI Interference in the Political Process”
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