Eyes and fingers peek through a gap in white window blinds, capturing wariness behind the ai fears by state findings.

Wyoming Residents Search AI Fears Most, Topping Vermont at 4,681 Per 100,000

2026-11-10

Our analysis of AI fears by state shows that Wyoming residents search for AI-related concerns more often, per person, than residents of any other state. The state records 4,681 annual searches per 100,000 residents. Vermont follows with 4,292, and Alaska ranks third at 3,599.7.

To measure the trend in these concerns, the experts at VIP-Grinders tracked 47 AI-related search terms. They used Google Ads Keyword Planner, a tool that estimates how often people search for a phrase. The terms cover job security, privacy, healthcare, and AI safety. Nationwide, they generate an estimated 1.13 million searches a year.

Public unease about AI also shows up in playful design, like a plush toy mimicking AI data center noise that offers a lighter take on the topic.

Beyond the top three, the ranking of AI-related searches by state continues with North Dakota at 3,466 searches per 100,000 residents and South Dakota at 3,113. Delaware places sixth at 2,727. Rhode Island, Montana, Maine, and New Hampshire complete the top 10.

Small states punch above their weight in raw volume. Wyoming logs about 27,000 AI-related searches a year, and Vermont logs about 27,600, despite their small populations.

Table ranking ten U.S. states by yearly and monthly AI fear searches per 100,000 people. — A table ranking ten U.S. states by annual and monthly search volume, along with the number of annual searches per 100k people.

AI fears by state: where population changes the picture

Population changes the picture for AI fears in each state. California records the most AI-related searches of any state, at 464,400 a year. Adjusted for population, however, it ranks 25th, with 1,175 searches per 100,000 residents.

New York and Texas each record 308,400 annual searches. Their per-capita rates are 1,527 and 1,058, placing them 13th and 28th in the ranking.

Healthcare leads the list of concerns

Healthcare is the biggest source of AI-related concern in the dataset. The phrase “AI in healthcare” draws 21,400 searches a month, or more than 250,000 a year.

AI fears about a takeover of the world rank second. That query attracts nearly three times less search interest than the healthcare phrase.

Table ranking ten AI-related search terms by monthly and annual search volume. — A table ranking ten AI-related search terms by their monthly and annual search volumes.

Takeover fears also outweigh job worries. The phrase “will AI take over the world” draws nearly five times as many annual searches as “will AI take my job.”

Employment still shows up in the data. Questions about AI replacing doctors and programmers generate a combined 21,600 searches a year.

Superintelligence has recently moved into wider public discussion. The term draws 45,600 searches a year. That is roughly half the volume of the takeover query, so it remains a niche topic.

The searches point to a public that asks about its doctors and its paychecks, yet asks the apocalypse question most often.

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Frequently asked questions

Which state has the highest rate of AI fear searches per person?

Wyoming has the highest rate, with 4,681 annual AI-related searches per 100,000 residents. Vermont follows with 4,292 searches per 100,000 residents, and Alaska ranks third at 3,599.7.

What is the biggest source of AI-related concern in these searches?

Healthcare is the biggest source of AI-related concern in the dataset. The phrase “AI in healthcare” draws 21,400 searches a month, or more than 250,000 a year.

How did researchers track public concern about AI across states?

The experts at VIP-Grinders tracked 47 AI-related search terms covering job security, privacy, healthcare, and AI safety. They used Google Ads Keyword Planner, a tool that estimates how often people search for a phrase.

Does California have the highest AI fear search rate per person?

No. California records the most AI-related searches of any state, at 464,400 a year, but adjusted for population it ranks 25th with 1,175 searches per 100,000 residents.