Three-quarters of Americans say their feelings about the growth of artificial intelligence lean toward fear and concern rather than hope and excitement, according to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS.

Seventy-five percent of respondents said they feel closer to fear and concern about AI, including 43 percent who feel that way strongly. Only 25 percent said they lean toward hope and excitement, and just 7 percent feel strongly optimistic.

The concern crosses partisan lines but runs deeper among Democrats. 85 percent of Democrats and 77 percent of independents reported feelings closer to fear, compared with 62 percent of Republicans. Women (83 percent) expressed more unease than men (67 percent). Younger adults also registered higher levels of worry: 79 percent of those under 50 leaned toward fear, versus 68 percent of those 65 and older.

Specific anxieties were widespread. Eighty-eight percent said they would be concerned if AI one day surpassed human intelligence, including 56 percent who would be very concerned. 87 percent voiced concern about the growing number of data centers required to support AI, and 82 percent said they worry about how quickly the technology is developing. 81 percent said they fear AI could fundamentally change their way of life.

Nearly half of Americans (48 percent) said the increasing use of AI is having a negative effect on their financial situation, while only 18 percent reported a positive effect. 55 percent of adults under 45 said AI is hurting their finances.

Most respondents want stronger federal action. 71 percent said the government is not doing enough to regulate AI, compared with 18 percent who said it is doing about the right amount and 10 percent who said it is doing too much. Majorities of Democrats (85 percent), independents (67 percent), and Republicans (63 percent) agreed that regulation falls short.

The issue may influence the November midterms. 64 percent of registered voters said data centers and AI will be extremely or very important to their vote for Congress, including 71 percent of Democrats and 58 percent of Republicans. 63 percent of Americans said they have been following news about AI very or somewhat closely.

The poll of 1,206 U.S. adults was conducted online and by phone in English and Spanish on Sept. 16-17 through the SSRS Opinion Panel. It carries a margin of sampling error of ±3.5 percentage points