Current Polling on the Government’s Role in Regulating AI
A bipartisan majority of the public supports the government playing an active role in regulating the use of AI technologies, in terms of how it is developed, provided to consumers, and used. Bipartisan majorities support a licensing process for AI developers, and for AI companies to disclose information about their AI systems. Bipartisan majorities support requiring that users be notified when they are interacting with an AI system and that efforts should be made to limit bias. Bipartisan majorities want the government to regulate companies’ use of AI in employment, lending and medical decisions; and to restrict the use of altered images and videos. Dig into the data below to learn more about the public’s views on AI:
General Opinion of Government Regulating AI
- 87% believe the government should play a major role (38%, Republicans 31%, Democrats 45%) or a minor role (49%, Republicans 53%, Democrats 48%) in the oversight of AI, with just 13% saying no role at all (Ipsos 2023)
- 82% agree that, “I believe AI should be regulated to ensure adequate consumer protection” (Harris-MITRE 2022)
- 74% favored “requiring AI developers to obtain licenses or certification” (Ipsos 2023)
- 66% support the government “regulating what data AI can use to train itself” (Ipsos 2023)
Requiring transparency of the data and algorithms used in AI
- 77% support “requiring companies to disclose information about their AI systems, such as data sources, training processes, and algorithmic decision-making methods” (Ipsos 2023)
Notifying users interacting with AI systems, and letting them opt-out and interact with a human
- 81% support “guidelines that would require people be notified when they are interacting with an AI system” (Ipsos 2023)
- 89% support requiring users be, “informed when an automated system is being used and how and why it contributes to outcomes that impact them” (Republicans 91%, Democrats 91%) (Harris-MITRE 2022)
- 91% support requiring that, when interacting with an AI system, people “be able to opt out, where appropriate, and have access to a person who can assist them” (Republicans 93%, Democrats 92%) (Harris-MITRE 2022)
Preventing discrimination and bias by AI
- 69% support “requiring companies to regularly audit their algorithms for bias and discrimination” (Republicans 67%, Democrats 77%) (YouGov Jan 2023)
- 65% think the federal government should work to “limit bias in AI” (Morning Consult 2021)
Using algorithms to make decisions about employment, loans and medical treatment
- 58% support “regulating the use of algorithms in high-stakes decision-making, such as hiring, mortgage-approval, or health care decisions” (Republicans 55%, Democrats 65%) (YouGov Jan 2023)
Restricting altered images and videos
- 77% said that “steps should be taken to restrict altered or made-up videos and images” (Republicans 77%, Democrats 77%), rather than “freedom to access/publish altered or made-up videos and images should be protected” (22%) (Pew 2019)