The Most AI-Paranoid States in the US Revealed

Wyoming is the most AI-paranoid state in the U.S., recording 4,700 annual searches per 100,000 residents. Vermont ranks second with 4,300, followed by Alaska with 3,600.

The experts at VIP-Grinders analyzed 47 AI-related search terms using Google Ads Keyword Planner, covering topics including job security, privacy, healthcare, and AI safety. Across the country, the terms generate an estimated 1.13 million searches annually, reflecting a mix of curiosity and concern about the technology.

Wyoming tops the ranking with 4,681 annual AI-related searches per 100,000 residents, narrowly ahead of Vermont’s 4,292. Despite their relatively small populations, the two states generate 27,000 and 27,600 searches a year, respectively.

Alaska ranks third with 3,599.7 annual searches per 100,000 residents, followed by North Dakota (3,466) and South Dakota (3,113). Delaware (2,727) takes sixth place, while Rhode Island, Montana, Maine, and New Hampshire complete the top 10.

Population has a significant impact on the rankings. California generates the most AI-related searches overall, with 464,400 annually, but ranks 25th when adjusted for population, at 1,175 searches per 100,000 residents. New York and Texas each record 308,400 annual searches, but rank 13th and 28th, respectively, with rates of 1,527 and 1,058 per 100,000 residents.

Healthcare is the biggest source of AI-related concern, with the term “AI in healthcare” generating 21,400 searches a month, or more than 250,000 annually. Fears about an AI takeover of the world rank second, attracting nearly three times less search interest.

Concerns about AI taking over the world also appear to outweigh questions about its impact on employment. The phrase “will AI take my job” receives nearly five times fewer searches than “will AI take over the world” annually. Employment remains a recurring concern, however, with questions about AI replacing doctors and programmers generating a combined 21,600 searches a year.

The term “superintelligence,” which has recently entered wider public discussion, also features in the data, attracting 45,600 searches annually. However, it remains a relatively niche topic, with twice as many searches for “will AI take over the world.”

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