Artificial intelligence is already reshaping how Americans work, learn and get their information. It raises real questions about jobs, privacy, misinformation and safety, and those questions will land on the desks of leaders at every level of government in the years ahead.
So in a new national survey of 1,000 U.S. adults, we asked a simple question: how confident are you that each of eight institutions can effectively handle the challenges AI poses? The answers reveal a public that knows whom it trusts, agrees on what it wants and is looking for leaders who can deliver it.
The clear leader is scientists, universities and researchers: 62% of Americans are confident they can handle AI's challenges. Technology companies come next at 47%. Confidence in government institutions is more modest, and noticeably higher closer to home. State governments (37%) and local governments (36%) earn more confidence than Congress (28%) or the White House (32%).
Scientists are also the one institution that earns majority confidence from Democrats (73%), Republicans (56%) and independents (58%) alike. On a topic that could easily become another partisan fault line, the public's instinct is to reach for knowledge and evidence first.
We also asked Americans which of two statements came closer to their view. 76% said elected officials are more interested in appearing to address AI than actually addressing it. Only 24% said officials are making a serious effort.
That view is widely shared. Democrats (79%), independents (79%) and Republicans (69%) all hold it, as do majorities in every age, income and education group measured. This isn't a verdict on any one party. It's a message to every elected official: Americans are ready to reward leaders who do the real, detailed work on AI and show results.
Supporters of each party tend to trust their own side on AI. 70% of Democrats are confident in the Democratic Party, and 64% of Republicans are confident in the Republican Party (54% also trust the White House).
Independents are different. They don't have a home team on this issue. No political institution earns more than 31% confidence from independents, and 47% of independents aren't confident in any of the six government or party institutions asked about, compared with roughly one in four Democrats (25%) and Republicans (26%).
But independents are far from disengaged. A majority (58%) trust scientists and researchers, and 79% want to see real action from elected officials. They are pragmatic, open-minded and looking for leaders who put evidence and cooperation first.
Americans who say they'd be likely to back a strong independent candidate are more confident in scientists (69% versus 60%) and technology companies (52% versus 47%) than those who say they wouldn't. They're also more likely to want elected officials to move beyond appearances (77% versus 69%). That's a portrait of practical, forward-looking voters who value expertise and want results.
On AI, Americans aren't as divided as our politics might suggest. They trust expertise, they want action, and they share that view across party lines. Each party has supporters who trust it to lead, and independents are looking for leaders who will earn their confidence. Leaders who bring experts to the table, work across the aisle and focus on measurable progress will be speaking directly to what most Americans say they want.
Methodology: AlphaROC conducted a survey of 1,000 U.S. adults on behalf of the Independent Center and Independent Center Voice from Sept. 25–28, 2026. All interviews were conducted online. Survey invitations were distributed randomly, with demographic balances aligned to general population benchmarks. The margin of error is ±3.1 points for the full sample and larger for subgroups. Figures are unweighted.
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