A strong majority of Americans support greater regulation of artificial intelligence, including measures designed to increase transparency, protect privacy, and preserve human involvement in important decisions. The findings suggest that public concern about AI extends across political affiliations and levels of AI usage, with even many enthusiastic AI users favoring stronger safeguards.
One of the survey's most notable findings is widespread support for "right to a human" protections. More than 70% of respondents said people should have the option to interact with a human instead of AI in critical areas such as healthcare, education, legal proceedings, and government services. Support was particularly strong for medical care, where nearly 80% favored maintaining access to human professionals rather than relying exclusively on AI systems.
Americans also expressed strong support for transparency and privacy requirements. The survey found that 75% want to be informed when they are interacting with AI, 73% support restrictions on AI using individuals' faces and voices, and 68% favor labeling AI-generated images and videos. These results indicate that many people want clearer disclosure standards and greater control over how their personal data is used in AI applications.
The findings come amid growing public unease about AI's broader impact on society. Recent national polls show increasing concern about job displacement, misinformation, privacy risks, and the rapid pace of AI adoption. A Reuters/Ipsos survey found that more than half of Americans worry that AI could eliminate jobs for themselves or members of their households, while other surveys show bipartisan support for stronger oversight and accountability measures.
The broader message from the Johns Hopkins study is that Americans are not necessarily opposed to AI itself, but they want clear rules governing its use. As governments debate how to regulate rapidly advancing AI technologies, the survey suggests that voters increasingly favor a balanced approach that encourages innovation while ensuring transparency, privacy protection, human oversight, and public accountability.
