A new survey by Stagwell’s Harris Poll and Harris X for the Harvard Center For American Political Studies shows a strong majority of voters—74%-- want a bipartisan government agency to regulate AI. And 66% reject the argument that regulation would hurt the US in the fevered competition with China to develop the technology. 

55% of voters say AI mostly helps society today, and 49% view it as one of the greatest innovations of our time, per the survey. 

More than half of voters believe AI will increase economic growth and productivity, although 60% expect AI to eliminate tens of millions of jobs. 

More broadly, survey found that the overall mood of Americans has dampened due to concerns on the economy with 56% saying the country is on the wrong track (+4 pts., August 2026).  

Voters are against the White House press pool ban, with a majority (62%) calling for courts to overturn it. And 56% of voters say President Trump generally undermines freedom of the press.   

The survey was conducted online September 26- 28, 2026, among 2,200 registered US voters by Stagwell’s The Harris Poll and HarrisX. 

Pictured above is a graphic from the September Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll.