Deep Skepticism About AI Companies Is The National Mood: US Respondents Favor Strict Federal Oversight

A new survey by Verasight reveals a significant shift in public sentiment toward the artificial intelligence sector, with a majority of U.S. respondents favoring aggressive federal oversight and the creation of a sovereign wealth fund. The data indicates that 69% of participants support requiring AI firms to transfer half of their stock to a public fund, reflecting growing dissatisfaction as tech layoffs accelerate despite high corporate profits. This trend suggests mounting political and social pressure on AI developers to prioritize public safety and economic equity over private gain.

The Verasight survey, conducted in June 2026 among 1,690 respondents, highlights a deep-seated distrust of AI corporations, with 81% of the public believing the government should have the power to block the release of risky AI systems. Furthermore, 89% of respondents advocate for a policy requiring AI firms to publicly disclose the results of their safety testing. This skepticism is underscored by the fact that 43% of those surveyed believe current regulatory norms are designed to benefit the companies themselves rather than the general public, while 49% argue that the federal government should be the final arbiter on AI safety decisions. Despite these concerns, consumer engagement remains high, with Google’s Gemini and OpenAI’s ChatGPT leading in usage at 46% and 45% respectively, while Meta’s Llama and Microsoft’s Copilot also maintain significant brand awareness.

The findings follow a period of heightened tension between the U.S. administration and major AI players, specifically a two-week standoff with Anthropic. Following a Commerce Department directive to block foreign access to its models due to national security concerns and reports of another company "jailbreaking" the Mythos model, Anthropic was forced to shut down its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 systems. The survey reflects this climate of caution, as 30% of respondents stated they trust the U.S. administration more than Anthropic to determine whether a model is safe. This regulatory friction comes as the public increasingly views AI development through the lens of national security and corporate accountability rather than just technological innovation.

The push for stricter oversight is heavily influenced by the economic disruption attributed to AI, with Challenger, Gray & Christmas reporting that AI was a factor in roughly 40% of the 97,000 job cuts announced in May 2026. In the first five months of 2026 alone, 87,714 layoffs were attributed to AI, a figure that already exceeds the 54,836 recorded for the entirety of 2025. In response to these trends and a Goldman Sachs prediction that 15 million workers could lose jobs during the AI transition, Senator Bernie Sanders introduced the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act. The legislation aims to secure a 50% public stake in the largest AI companies to ensure that the economic benefits of the technology are used to improve public life rather than simply enriching the world's wealthiest individuals.