The survey of 3,488 U.S. adults was conducted as part of Wave 195 of the American Trends Panel, a nationally representative panel of more than 10,000 U.S. adults. The survey had a response rate of 86%, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points for the full sample.

While a plurality of Americans view China as the leader in AI development, twelve percent say the United States is more advanced than China in developing artificial intelligence. Eighteen percent say the United States and China are about equally advanced in developing artificial intelligence. Thirty-three percent are not sure which nation is more advanced in developing artificial intelligence.

Views on which country leads in AI development vary by gender. Thirty-one percent of men say China is more advanced than the United States in developing artificial intelligence, compared to 41% of women.

Political affiliation also influences perceptions of AI leadership. Seventeen percent of Republicans and Republican leaners say the United States is the leader in AI development, compared to 9% of Democrats and Democratic leaners. Usage of AI tools shows a similar divide in perceptions of U.S. leadership. Thirty-six percent of Americans who use AI chatbots say China is more advanced than the United States in AI development, and 36% of those who do not use AI chatbots say the same.

The survey also examined the importance Americans place on U.S. leadership in the field. Twenty-two percent say it is not too or not at all important that the United States is the world leader in developing artificial intelligence. Fifty percent of men say it is extremely or very important for the United States to be the world leader in AI development, compared to 36% of women.

Educational attainment correlates with these views as well. Fifty percent of Americans with a bachelor’s degree or higher say it is extremely or very important for the United States to be the world leader in AI development, compared to 39% of those with some college or less.

Republicans place a higher priority on U.S. leadership than Democrats do. Fifty-four percent of Republicans say it is extremely or very important for the United States to be the world leader in AI development, compared to 34% of Democrats.

Beyond leadership perceptions, the survey addressed the global economic impact of artificial intelligence. Sixteen percent say artificial intelligence will not make much difference in the gap between rich and poor countries. Twenty-five percent are unsure whether artificial intelligence will increase or decrease the gap between rich and poor countries.

Partisan differences appear in expectations about global inequality. Sixty percent of Democrats say AI will increase inequality between countries, compared to 45% of Republicans. Educational background also shapes these expectations.

Sixty-two percent of Americans with a bachelor’s degree say the gap between countries will widen due to AI, compared to 46% of those without one. AI chatbot users are slightly more likely to anticipate a widening gap. Fifty-five percent of Americans who use AI chatbots say AI will increase the gap between countries, compared to 47% of those who do not use them. In a 2024 survey, 41% of Americans believed China was more advanced than the U.S. in AI development.

The 2026 survey showed that 51% of Americans believe AI will increase the gap between rich and poor countries, up from 46% in 2024 and 42% in 2023.