MARYLAND (WBFF) — A recent UMBC Poll has revealed that Maryland residents are both informed about and cautious of artificial intelligence (AI).
The survey, conducted from Oct. 21 to Oct. 25, 2025, included 810 Maryland adults, of whom 757 were registered voters.
The poll found that nearly all respondents reported some familiarity with AI, with 54% having heard or read “a lot” about it, 32% “some,” and 11% “a little.” Only 3% said they had heard or read “nothing at all.”
Despite this familiarity, 58% of Marylanders believe AI will negatively impact society, while 30% see it as a positive influence.
Personal use of AI varies, with 43% of residents using AI tools weekly or more, 9% monthly, 20% less than monthly, and 26% never using AI.
The poll highlighted widespread concerns about AI, with 81% of respondents “very” concerned about the spread of misinformation and political propaganda.
Other significant worries include identity theft or impersonation (78%), the impact on education and critical thinking (61%), a decline in personal connections (58%), AI replacing human jobs (55%), the environmental impact of data centers (51%), and the use of facial recognition in law enforcement (44%).
The UMBC Poll, conducted by the UMBC Institute of Politics, utilized a dual-frame random sample stratified by county, with interviews conducted via landline and cellular phones.
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The poll’s margin of error is +/- 3.4% for the full sample and +/- 3.5% for registered voters.
