How worried are Americans about their work being automated?

In 2021 and 2022, fewer than 25% of surveyed Americans said they were worried about their type of work being automated. By 2023, that had risen above 32%. The timing aligns with the release of ChatGPT and the wave of public attention to large language models.

However, the patterns are not uniform across age groups. Among adults aged 44 and younger, worry is higher and nearly balanced with non-worry: 37–42% say they are worried, compared to 49–59% who are not. These early-to-mid career workers may worry more because they have decades left in the workforce, giving AI more time to reach the level needed to replace their jobs.

This chart shows what Americans think about the risk, but the actual net impact of AI on jobs is still unfolding and has been contested among experts for over a decade. In the meantime, understanding public perception matters because it shapes support for regulation and reveals where better education about AI is needed during this period of rapid change.