A new survey from Elon University’s Imagining the Digital Future Center, conducted by SSRS, finds that most U.S. adults have concerns about how AI will transform working life.
- 83% of U.S. adults expect AI to eliminate more jobs than it creates
- 68% expect most jobs to pay too little for a decent lifestyle
- 62% expect most available jobs to be dull and unfulfilling
- 65% agree that if AI makes work less meaningful, people will lose their sense of purpose and dignity
Despite these concerns, respondents say they are embracing the technology.
- 66% say they are already comfortable using AI at work or would welcome it with more training
- Half are highly confident they can adapt their skills to changing demands in their current jobs.
Methodology
The survey was created by Elon University’s Imagining the Digital Future Center and conducted by SSRS on the SSRS Opinion Panel Omnibus between Aug. 20–24, 2026. The survey included 1,158 U.S. adults and included an oversample of 150 adults employed full or part time. Interviews were conducted online and by telephone in English. The margin of error for the full sample is ±3.4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. Review the methodology.