SALT LAKE CITY (Oct. 26, 2026) – Americans and Utahns are concerned that artificial intelligence will displace workers but are far less worried about losing their own jobs, according to a new Sutherland Institute report examining the gap between public perceptions of AI and its real-world benefits.

In The Human-Centered Benefits of AI: Reality vs. Perception, Sutherland Institute tech policy analyst Ford Copple explores how AI is already improving everyday life in ways that people may not realize, including:

• Health care: AI tools are helping doctors monitor patients for warning signs of chronic conditions, accelerating the identification of potentially cancerous cells, and expanding access to dental care.
• Education: AI is providing personalized math support for students while helping teachers reduce their workloads.
• Research and discovery: AI is helping researchers recover damaged ancient texts, identify potential archaeological sites, and explore distant planets.
• Small business: AI tools are helping businesses develop their branding, create employee training materials, manage customer communications, and streamline operations.

The report also features data from a brand-new survey of national and Utah voters commissioned by Sutherland and conducted by Y2 Analytics.

The survey found that Utahns and Americans in general are concerned about AI’s effects on the broader job market but much less fearful that the technology will replace their own job. Utahns are even less likely than Americans overall to worry about losing their jobs to AI.

• 82% of Americans and 78% of Utahns are worried about AI taking jobs.
• 50% of Utahns and 41% of Americans are not worried about AI taking THEIR job.
• 34% of Americans and 16% of Utahns say AI has made their life “a lot” or “a great deal easier”.
• However, 59% of Utahns say AI has made their life “a little” or “not at all” easier, and they are significantly more likely to answer that way than Americans as a whole (36%).

The findings also show a gap between the AI tools people commonly use and the technology’s broader potential. Both groups are most comfortable with productivity-focused applications, such as chatbots and writing assistants. They also see significant promise in AI’s potential to advance medicine, research, and innovation. They are less enthusiastic, however, its potential benefits for businesses.

Copple argues that greater public understanding of AI’s practical applications can help make policy debates more balanced.

While there are legitimate concerns around AI, including privacy, safety, education, and employment, Copple cautions against allowing those concerns to prevent its potential to improve lives.

“As policymakers consider AI regulation, they will need to account for both the technology’s risks and its potential benefits,” Copple writes. “The challenge is to address legitimate risks without losing sight of the opportunities AI may create.”

Read the report here.

Ford Copple is available for interviews. Please contact Kelli Pierce at the contact information below to schedule one.