MacArthur supported NORC at the University of Chicago to poll Illinois residents about their views on AI in the workplace and for children, trust in AI systems, data centers, and regulation.
NORC at the University of Chicago conducted a poll to understand Illinois residents’ views on artificial intelligence (AI) regulation, trust, and accountability.
A survey of more than 1,200 Illinois residents from July 9 – July 28, 2026 revealed that Illinoisans are using AI but remain skeptical about its impact and want stronger oversight. Many expressed reservations about the reliability of AI, its effects on children, its impact on work, and whether current regulations and safeguards are adequate.
Key Findings
- While three-quarters (78 percent) of Illinoisans have used AI, only 12 percent are highly confident that AI-generated information is factual and reliable.
- Seven out of 10 Illinoisans (72 percent) say they will never trust AI to make decisions on their behalf.
- 70 percent expect AI to eliminate more jobs than it creates, and many have already been impacted at work.
- Two-thirds believe AI should be regulated “a great deal” or “quite a bit,” and among AI users, 68 percent say current regulation is insufficient.
- Eight in ten residents call independent testing very or extremely important, but 58 percent have little or no trust in the federal government to oversee AI’s development.
- An overwhelming majority (86 percent) of residents say parents do not have enough information to guide their children’s AI use, and only 46 percent of parents have set household rules for it.
- Sixty percent of residents oppose a data center in their city or town, with 67 percent highly concerned about strain on the power grid.
Separately, Illinois enacted the Artificial Intelligence Safety Measures Act in July 2026, establishing safety, transparency, audit, and incident-reporting requirements, with a focus on preventing “catastrophic risks” from the most advanced AI models. Its requirements begin taking effect in 2027.
“The data tells us that while there is wide use of AI in Illinois, there is also low trust in the technology.”
“The data tells us that while there is wide use of AI in Illinois, there is also low trust in the technology,” said Eric Sears, Director, Technology in the Public Interest at the MacArthur Foundation. “Amid growing concerns around AI safety and security, now is the time for stronger public oversight of AI systems and accountability to prevent real-world harms and to ensure that the benefits of AI are widely distributed among all Illinoisans.”
This survey was conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago with funding from the MacArthur Foundation. The poll measured attitudes on children and AI, AI in the workplace, trust in AI systems, data center development, and perceptions of AI regulation. Findings reflect the views of survey respondents and analysis conducted by NORC. They do not necessarily represent positions of the MacArthur Foundation.
