AI Reports · GovAI (Oxford) · 2026-10-17 · Research paper
Survey Research Local US Officials' Views on the Impacts and Governance of AI: Evidence from 2022 and 2023 Survey Waves January 2025 Research Paper Sophia Hatz, Noemi Dreksler, Kevin Wei, Baobao Zhang
Based on surveys of US local policymakers conducted in 2022 and 2023, this report examines their views on AI's impacts and regulation. Policymakers anticipate risks such as increased surveillance, misinformation, and political polarization alongside benefits in innovation and infrastructure, and many feel underprepared. A majority support government oversight, with Democrats showing stronger and more consistent support for regulation than Republicans, though Republican support shifted toward a majority between 2022 and 2023.