March 9, 2026
Date: March 9, 2026
56% of Americans report using AI tools, up from 48% three months ago, according to NBC News polling. In the same survey, only 26% view AI positively while 46% view it negatively. A separate 2026 survey found that 40% of workers worldwide fear losing their job to AI, up from 28% two years ago. In the U.S., 60% of American workers believe AI will eliminate more jobs than it creates in the year ahead. A Fox News poll from February found that six in ten registered voters believe AI is moving too fast. Pew Research reports that 50% of Americans describe themselves as more concerned than excited about AI.
On forward-looking expectations, Pew Research found that 64% of Americans believe AI will lead to fewer jobs over the next 20 years. Among those expecting AI to reshape their futures, 43% anticipate mostly negative changes compared to 25% who expect positive ones. 55% of Americans say they want more control over how AI is used in their lives; 57% of AI experts report the same preference.
For small businesses specifically, the SBA found that the number one reason small businesses have not adopted AI is not cost and not fear — 82% say AI simply does not feel applicable to what they do. Among small businesses that have tried AI tools, 68% report using them more over time, and the majority report that AI has helped them expand their workforce rather than reduce it.
The Coachella Valley economy is concentrated in sectors — hospitality, healthcare, real estate, retail, and food service — where the concern about AI job displacement maps directly onto existing roles. Front desk operations, bookkeeping, reservation management, and customer communications are the categories most frequently named in displacement discussions.
The SBA finding on applicability is notable for the Valley’s small business base. The gap is between what AI developers are building and what a family-run business in a service economy actually needs on a daily basis. The 68% figure among businesses that have tried AI tools suggests that adoption, once initiated, tends to continue — but the initiation barrier remains high.
The polling data on control (55% of Americans, 57% of AI experts) reflects an accountability preference that crosses the adoption divide. It is present in both AI users and non-users.