Democrats are less likely than Republicans to trust companies at the forefront of AI, according to a new poll.
The Axios Harris Poll 100 rankings showed a large shift in just two years, with some significant drops in Democrats' trust of OpenAI, X, TikTok, Meta and Microsoft, among others.
In 2024, Democrats trusted Microsoft, Samsung, TikTok and Nvidia more than Republicans did. That scenario shifted completely two years later, and now there is no company in the survey that Democrats trust more than Republicans. Only Reddit and IBM have the same level of trust among members of both parties.
The poll has also shown 44% of Republicans saying their opinion about AI has become more favorable in the past year, compared to 35% among Democrats.
Moreover, 40% of Democrats said they expect the technology to somewhat or greatly harm their career opportunities and salaries in the future, compared to 32% of Republicans.
Looking at demographics, 42% of Gen Z respondents said AI will hurt their job opportunities and wages. 33% of millennials, 39% of Gen X and 37% of baby boomers gave the same answer.
Outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported that 21,490 layoffs in April were tied to AI-related restructuring, accounting for 26% of all announced cuts during the month. The total number of layoffs rose 38% from March, while the technology sector recorded the largest share of reductions with 33,361 job cuts, according to the firm.
Andy Challenger, workplace expert and chief revenue officer at Challenger, Gray & Christmas, said companies are increasingly redirecting payroll budgets toward AI investments rather than expanding headcount.
"Regardless of whether individual jobs are being replaced by AI, the money for those roles is," Challenger said in a statement released alongside the report.
In turn, Ben Zweig, chief executive of Revelio Labs, recently told The Washington Post he does not see broad "AI displacement" yet. Instead, he described the shift in which several companies are conducting layoffs or refraining from hiring as "anticipatory," with employers waiting to see which jobs and tasks AI may eventually absorb before committing to new hires.
AI is also clogging the hiring process itself. Zweig says recruiters are "flooded" with applications, many polished or generated by AI tools. Applicants, meanwhile, face automated résumé filters, keyword scans, and recorded video interviews.
That has made the traditional promise of college feel shakier. The Post highlighted workers with advanced degrees, technical skills, and professional experience who still struggled to land roles. For recent graduates, the bar has moved higher with jobs labeled "entry level" often asking for years of experience, AI skills, and proof of leadership.
