It’s no secret: Big Tech has made massive investments in artificial intelligence (AI). Last year, Big Tech companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon spent more than $25 billion on AI startups. AI has been all the rage, receiving over 850 mentions in the first two quarterly earnings calls in 2024 for the top 20 stocks in the S&P 500. Although civil society organizations and others have raised increasing concerns on the ethical development of this new technology, tech companies show no sign of slowing down their investments in AI. Big Tech companies are racing to develop and deploy AI features, sometimes with little to no choice for consumers.

New polling from Data for Progress and Accountable Tech explores voters’ perceptions of Big Tech’s investments in AI features.

First, voters were asked if they approve or disapprove of Big Tech companies including AI features in their products and platforms? Despite massive investments on the parts of these companies, voters are split on their approval of Big Tech companies including AI components in their products and platforms:

Second, voters were asked how often, if at all, in the past month have they used new AI features like chatbots and image generators on platforms like Google Search and Instagram? A large majority of voters — across political parties — say they have hardly used these new AI technologies. Nearly two-thirds of voters (65%) say they have “rarely” or “never” used these new features:

Finally, voters were asked which of the following statements comes closest to their viewpoint: “I am interested in using products and platforms created by Big Tech companies that include new AI features” or “I am not interested in using products and platforms created by Big Tech companies that include new AI features.” Our survey found that more than half of voters say they are not interested in using these new AI features:

Although Big Tech companies are racing to develop and deploy new AI technologies, consumer sentiment is not keeping up. Our survey of voters finds significant low use of these new technologies and an overwhelming lack of consumer interest in AI.