A Johns Hopkins survey shows Americans broadly support stronger AI regulation, including a right to a human in medical, legal, educational, and government interactions.

Respondents demand transparency and privacy protections, favoring AI interaction labeling, mandatory labeling for AI-generated media, and a ban on deepfakes that imitate faces or voices; 68% want AI-image/video labeling, 73% back restrictions on facial/voice use, and 75% support disclosure when engaging with AI.

Full findings and methodology are published at FuturRealities.org, with results to be discussed at The Future of Our Realities 2026 conference in Washington, D.C. later this month.

The White House released a national AI policy framework in March 2026, but guardrails remain limited and comprehensive protections are still lacking.

Despite policy efforts, enforcement and safeguards are evolving, with laws like the TAKE IT DOWN Act criminalizing some deepfake content but not providing universal protections.

Researchers emphasize this snapshot is intended for annual follow-up to track opinion shifts as AI becomes more embedded in classrooms, call centers, and other sectors.

Nearly four in ten expect large tech firms to reap the biggest AI gains, while about 20% foresee AI systems themselves gaining power and six in ten think AI will widen wealth gaps.

Overall, roughly 40% anticipate tech giants dominating an AI-driven future, with a smaller share believing individuals will hold the most power and about one in five fearing autonomous AI could centralize power.

Even AI proponents acknowledge risks, underscoring a public appetite for human-centered, transparent deployment across sectors.

Context notes there is no comprehensive federal AI regulation in the U.S. yet, with ongoing privacy and job-displacement concerns amid rising calls for guardrails.

Public opinion is mixed: about one-third positive, one-third negative, and the remainder ambivalent; positivity is higher among frequent AI users and lower among those with minimal exposure.

Experience with AI shapes views, with roughly 80% positivity among daily, skilled users versus about 24% among those with minimal exposure, and younger adults tending to be more favorable while still favoring regulation.