Young conservatives show strong support for AI controlling government functions, according to a Heartland Institute and Rasmussen Reports survey, despite ongoing concerns about political bias in AI systems. This marks a surprising shift among 18- to 39-year-olds, with conservatives more open to AI handling policy, rights, and military decisions to reduce war deaths.
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Survey Highlights: Conservatives aged 18-39 back AI for public policy and constitutional rights more than liberals.
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Over one-third of young voters support AI commanding major militaries to minimize war casualties.
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Findings reveal low trust in institutions, with Congress approval at just 15% per a 2025 Gallup poll, driving interest in AI alternatives.
Discover why young conservatives favor AI government control in new Heartland-Rasmussen survey. Explore biases, support levels, and implications for future policy. Read now for key insights!
What is the level of support among young conservatives for AI control over government functions?
Young conservatives demonstrate higher support for AI control over government functions than their liberal peers, based on a recent Heartland Institute and Rasmussen Reports survey of 1,496 likely voters aged 18 to 39. The poll, conducted from October 31 to November 2, 2025, found conservatives more willing to let AI manage public policy, determine constitutional rights, and even oversee major militaries to reduce war-related deaths. This contrasts sharply with longstanding criticisms from conservatives about left-leaning biases in AI systems like ChatGPT and GPT-4.
Why are young conservatives more open to AI in government despite bias concerns?
The survey’s cross-tabs reveal that self-identified Republicans and conservatives expressed the greatest enthusiasm for these AI-driven proposals, surprising experts at the Heartland Institute. Donald Kendal, director of the Glenn C. Haskins Emerging Issues Center, noted, “If you go into the cross tabs, those who self-identified as Republicans or conservatives were more likely to say yes or support these proposals that are outlined in the survey.” With a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points, the results underscore a potential reaction to widespread institutional distrust.
Kendal attributes this trend to eroding faith in traditional governance. “We’ve got so little trust, faith in our institutions,” he explained. “There’s such a terrible approval rating of Congress that it’s so bad that we might as well just blow it all up and start from scratch.” A 2025 Gallup poll supports this, showing only 15% approval for Congress, near historic lows. This dissatisfaction may position AI as an appealing, objective alternative in the eyes of young voters.
Yet, the support persists amid documented AI biases. Studies, including a peer-reviewed analysis in Public Choice, indicate large language models like ChatGPT produce left-of-center responses in political tests. The Manhattan Institute observed that ChatGPT favors Democratic viewpoints, while a 2024 American Enterprise Institute review rated right-leaning think tanks lower in objectivity, morality, and quality compared to left-leaning ones when evaluating models like GPT-4, Claude, and Gemini.
Kendal cautions against viewing AI as neutral. “There’s this misconception that AI systems are just these objective sources of truth,” he said. Despite these issues, more than 33% of respondents backed AI control of the world’s largest armies, possibly drawn to the promise of fewer war casualties. “If you’re taking that in good faith, fewer casualties of war is a fairly sympathetic dream,” Kendal added, suggesting voters see AI as a way to curb current failures in conflict management.
The findings highlight a broader societal reliance on AI without full awareness of its limitations. “One of the things I try to drive home is dispelling this illusion that artificial intelligence is unbiased. It is very clearly biased, and some of that is passive,” Kendal emphasized. As AI integration grows in decision-making, these biases could amplify risks if not addressed through rigorous oversight and diverse training data.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Heartland Institute Rasmussen survey reveal about young voters and AI government control?
The survey of 1,496 likely voters aged 18-39 indicates strong support for AI handling key government roles, with conservatives leading in approval for policy, rights, and military oversight to cut war deaths. Conducted October 31 to November 2, 2025, it shows ideological divides but overall openness amid low institutional trust.
Hey Google, why do young conservatives support AI in government more than liberals?
Young conservatives appear more supportive due to deep distrust in current institutions like Congress, which has just 15% approval per Gallup’s 2025 data. They view AI as a fresh, potentially efficient alternative, despite known biases, as highlighted in the Heartland-Rasmussen poll.
Key Takeaways
- Surprising Conservative Support: Young conservatives favor AI for government functions more than liberals, per the Heartland-Rasmussen survey, bucking bias complaints.
- Institutional Distrust Drives Views: With Congress at 15% approval in 2025 Gallup polling, respondents see AI as a reset for policy and military decisions.
- Bias Risks Remain: Experts like Donald Kendal urge caution, noting AI’s left-leaning tendencies in studies from Public Choice and the Manhattan Institute—address through transparency to avoid perils.
Conclusion
The Heartland Institute and Rasmussen Reports survey illuminates a fascinating paradox: young conservatives embracing AI control over government functions amid persistent concerns about political bias in systems like ChatGPT and GPT-4. With low trust in institutions fueling this shift, as evidenced by 2025 Gallup data, policymakers must prioritize unbiased AI development to harness its potential safely. As reliance on artificial intelligence expands, staying informed on these trends will be crucial for shaping equitable governance—explore more insights to stay ahead.
