www.lesswrong.com/posts/Rx38cuCpL9hguLCDq/for-love-of-the-lightcone-don-t-partis...
1 correction found
there is no reason to think this suspicion has a partisan skew.
By early-to-mid 2026, reputable polling did show partisan differences in AI attitudes, with Democrats generally more worried and Republicans somewhat more positive.
Full reasoning
This sentence says there is "no reason" to think public suspicion of AI has a partisan skew, but 2026 polling had already found partisan differences.
A February 2026 Economist/YouGov poll reported that Republicans were more likely than Democrats or independents to trust AI, and that Republicans were more likely to say AI would have an overall positive effect. Pew then reported on September 16, 2026 that Democrats are now more worried than Republicans about AI in daily life and its impact on jobs; in Pew's June 2026 survey, 56% of Democrats said AI's increased use in daily life made them more concerned than excited, versus 49% of Republicans.
That doesn't mean AI concern is purely partisan or that one party is unconcerned. But it does mean there was evidence of a partisan skew, so saying there was "no reason" to think so is too strong.
2 sources
- Most Americans say AI will reduce the number of jobs in the U.S. | YouGov
"Republicans are more likely than Democrats or Independents to trust AI" and "Younger adults and Republicans are more likely to say AI will have an overall positive effect than older Americans, Democrats, and Independents."
- Democrats now more worried than Republicans about AI, its impact on jobs | Pew Research Center
"For the first time, Democrats are now more likely than Republicans to be concerned about the growing role of artificial intelligence in daily life and its potential to take jobs." Pew says 56% of Democrats vs. 49% of Republicans were more concerned than excited about AI's increased use in daily life.