AI: the growing UK pushback

People are pushing back against AI. This report outlines the initial findings from a UK survey of current attitudes to AI, including where people choose to limit or reject the use of AI tools. The survey of 2,055 UK adults was carried out by Deltapoll for King’s Digital Future Institute and RAi UK across 12th-15th June 2026. We also provide insight from a roundtable hosted at King’s College London on 24th February 2026 on AI: friction, rejection, and resistance.

• Our survey shows that people are becoming more cautious about AI. They acknowledge potential uses and benefits while simultaneously worrying about possible downsides.
• Attitudes to AI have become more negative over the past three years, and people are actively choosing to limit their use of AI tools. Access to and awareness of AI do not automatically translate into regular use. A rejection of AI is not simply due to lack of skills.
• There are also generational differences in attitudes to AI: Gen Z are more likely to use AI regularly, but they also feel AI has more risks than benefits and are more likely to limit their use of it, despite being overwhelmingly confident in their ability to use it.
• Overall, the majority of people think it would be difficult or impossible for them to avoid being exposed to AI even if they wanted to, raising questions about how people can meaningfully consent to the use of AI in today’s society.