Formula 1, the pinnacle of motorsport, is facing a strange problem this year. As new, more technologically advanced cars arrive for the 2026 season, some drivers are unhappy with the role AI is playing in determining how the engine delivers power at key moments. Even the world’s most prestigious drivers sit in the literal driver’s seat of their cars and say they’re not. actually These days they have control over what they want.
We all want to feel like we’re in the driver’s seat of our lives. At the same time, we live in a world that feels increasingly unpredictable, and AI is contributing to that unpredictability. Those who participated in my research overwhelmingly say they feel AI is transforming life as we know it, rather than just tinkering in the corner. The power of AI today raises important questions about how much control we have in this new future.
Americans are still not sure what this AI revolution will be, and are divided on whether AI is likely to help or harm them. It found that 42 percent of voters think AI will be more helpful, while 39 percent think it will be harmful in the future. Optimism is growing among those who use AI tools the most. The percentage of people who say AI makes them feel anxious has decreased over the past three years, but remains at around 4 in 10.
When voters are asked whether they are more worried about AI disrupting the economy or AI getting out of human control, voters lean toward economic concerns. But for American workers and business leaders, economic change and the question of who is in charge are inextricably linked. What control do I have over what I do and what I produce? How can I find out? I In an AI-powered world, am I the one benefiting from my ingenuity and work?
As of last summer, the workers I surveyed were leaning toward the idea that technological change could be good for them. A survey I conducted in August 2025 with the Economic Innovation Group’s American Worker Project found that 57 percent of workers view new technology as an opportunity rather than a threat, a view shared by college-educated workers (61 percent) and non-college-educated workers (55 percent).
At the same time, workers still feel there is a risk of losing control of their careers. Job displacement is the second-biggest concern voters have about AI these days, behind the trustworthiness and trustworthiness of the models used. In focus groups I’ve conducted with young Americans, new york timesthere have been serious concerns that AI is shifting power and control toward businesses and employers and away from workers and potential employees like them.
In a job market where prices are rising and new workers are at a disadvantage, it’s understandable that there is some hesitation about who will benefit from AI.
Businesses and employers in general do I agree with the premise that AI will benefit the bottom line. According to the Census Bureau, the percentage of businesses using AI has increased significantly in recent years, and a Bipartisan Policy Center poll found that by 2024, two-thirds of small business owners and executives reported that they expect AI to have a positive impact on the future of their business.
But while they are excited about what AI means, they also have questions about the control issues and risks associated with AI. Deloitte found that nearly two-thirds of companies are likely to redesign or significantly transform key processes around AI. In my surveys of business owners and executives, nearly all report that it is important for AI providers to disclose how customer data is used to improve, fine-tune, and evaluate AI systems. they want to be sure they are Those who benefit from the fruits of their own efforts and ingenuity. 56% are concerned that competitors will benefit from AI models trained on their organization’s own data, workflows, and knowledge.
Most people (86%) agree that having full ownership and control over the AI systems, data, and models they use is a business priority. Additionally, 66% of business and IT leaders told Deloitte that they are at least moderately concerned about relying on foreign-managed AI infrastructure.
Business leaders want to know that using AI won’t help them stay ahead of the competition, but won’t expose them to new risks. Workers want to know that AI tools will enable them to do more, not take away their value. While AI has real benefits for businesses, workers, and people, there are also clear consistencies in the data. When AI takes over the world, people will worry about who is in charge.
What future do people want for AI? Still sitting in the driver’s seat.
