A Reuters/Ipsos survey shows that 71 % of U.S. adults worry AI could permanently replace workers. The poll also finds widespread concern about political manipulation and military uses of AI. The findings have ignited conversation across social platforms about how to regulate and adapt to automation.
The latest AI job displacement poll results have sparked a sobering discussion about the social costs of automation. Conducted over six days and concluding on August 19 2025, the Reuters/Ipsos survey of 4,446 U.S. adults found that 71 % fear artificial intelligence will “put too many people out of work permanently.” Seventy‑seven per cent worry it could be used to sow political chaos, and nearly half oppose the use of AI in military targeting. When Reuters published the findings, news quickly spread across Reddit’s r/Futurology and r/Technology. Users posted threads on how to prepare for an automated future, with many referencing the survey’s statistics. On X, influencers like economist Daron Acemoglu shared the poll with comments urging policymakers to focus on equitable AI deployment.
Displacement fears and economic anxiety
The fear that AI will permanently displace jobs resonates across demographics. In comment sections, workers in manufacturing, customer service and even white‑collar professions described automation already creeping into their roles. One viral TikTok video featured a call centre employee explaining how a new chatbot had replaced half of her team. On YouTube, analysts pointed out that the U.S. unemployment rate remains low at 4.2 %, yet people perceive AI as an existential threat. Economists argue that while AI may eliminate certain jobs, it will also create new ones; however, the poll suggests that the public remains sceptical.
Political chaos and deepfake worries
The survey also found that 77 % of respondents are concerned that AI could be used by adversaries to incite political chaos. With deepfake videos and synthetic news spreading on social media, respondents fear a future where voters cannot distinguish fact from fabrication. The poll’s release coincided with viral videos of AI‑generated political adverts on TikTok and manipulated audio clips on X. Many users argued that social platforms need stronger verification tools and that educators should teach media literacy as part of AI literacy.
Military applications and ethics
Nearly half of those surveyed said the U.S. government should never use AI to determine military targets. Only 24 % support such use, while 28 % are undecided. Commentators on Reddit pointed to recent experiments with AI‑driven drones and emphasised the moral hazards of delegating life‑and‑death decisions to algorithms. On X, technologists argued that autonomous weapons should be banned outright. At the same time, some defence analysts insisted that AI could reduce civilian casualties by increasing precision. The split highlights how quickly technological capability is outpacing ethical consensus.
Implications for policy and labour markets
The poll arrives as policymakers debate how to regulate AI. The fear of permanent job loss may push governments to enact stronger labour protections, invest in retraining and consider policies like universal basic income. In the private sector, companies may need to adopt transparent transition plans to reassure employees. Industry groups such as the AFL-CIO have begun lobbying for AI safety standards that include worker impact assessments. Meanwhile, educators are rethinking curricula to emphasise skills that AI cannot easily automate, such as critical thinking and social intelligence. For a closer look at how AI is already disrupting career pipelines, our deep dive into AI entry-level job loss highlights how recent graduates are among the first to feel the squeeze.
