Oklahoma Beats Connecticut and Other US States Where AI Concerns are Growing Fast

Image generated with Ai

Oklahoma has overtaken Connecticut and other US states as the place where concerns about artificial intelligence are rising fastest. New research shows a sharp increase in searches about AI risks, privacy and safety, highlighting growing public unease as businesses expand their use of artificial intelligence across the American economy.

Here are the top 10 states where AI concerns are growing the fastest:

AI Anxiety Rises Across US States As Adoption Accelerates

Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly visible across the US economy, but public confidence is not necessarily keeping pace with adoption. A new study by IT support provider Hamilton Group identifies the states where searches for information about AI risks, safety, privacy and potential dangers have increased most rapidly.

The research places Oklahoma at the top of the ranking, with AI concern searches rising 64.4% compared with the previous 12-month period. Connecticut, Alabama, Nebraska and Colorado complete the top five, highlighting a growing divide between the expansion of artificial intelligence and public sentiment towards the technology.

“AI adoption should be driven by responsibility as much as innovation. The rising concern across US states shows why businesses must protect trust while embracing technology. For travel and tourism, combining AI efficiency with human expertise, transparency and strong data practices can create better experiences without losing the human connection,” said Anup Kumar Keshan, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Travel And Tour World.

Why is Oklahoma seeing the fastest rise in AI concern?

Oklahoma recorded a 64.4% increase in searches relating to AI concerns, the largest rise among all 50 states examined.

The study looked at online searches including questions such as whether AI is dangerous, what the risks of AI are and whether ChatGPT is private. Oklahoma’s increase comes as artificial intelligence becomes more visible in workplaces, with 17.1% of businesses using AI in 2026 and AI-related job postings increasing by 38.4% over the measured period.

AI investment in Oklahoma remains comparatively modest, at about $100 million in venture capital between 2019 and 2025. However, the figures suggest that people do not necessarily need to live in a major technology investment hub to encounter concerns about artificial intelligence.

In Oklahoma, residents are getting the most concerned about using AI, according to a September 2026 report. As 46% of Americans are worried about AI-driven misinformation and manipulation, a new study by IT support provider Hamilton Group checked where AI usage is growing and where people become more anxious about involving artificial intelligence in their tasks.

Is Connecticut experiencing a similar AI confidence gap?

Connecticut ranks second, with AI concern searches increasing by 47.5%.

The state has a considerably larger AI and machine-learning investment base than Oklahoma, with approximately $5.89 billion in venture capital investment recorded between 2019 and 2025. At the same time, AI-related job postings increased by 29.8%, while 17.3% of businesses reported using artificial intelligence.

This combination places Connecticut in an interesting position. AI investment is substantially higher than in Oklahoma, but business adoption is at a similar level, suggesting that concern may be influenced by broader awareness of the technology rather than simply by how many companies currently use it.

Why has AI anxiety increased in Alabama?

Alabama ranks third, recording a 42.4% increase in AI concern searches.

The state has comparatively limited AI venture capital investment, valued at approximately $160 million between 2019 and 2025. Nevertheless, 13.4% of businesses are using AI, while AI-related job postings increased by 29.3%.

The figures indicate that artificial intelligence is becoming part of the employment conversation even in states that do not have the investment levels associated with major technology centres. For workers, the appearance of AI-related skills in job advertisements can create uncertainty about whether existing roles will change or whether new qualifications will become necessary.

Is the labour market driving AI concern in Nebraska?

Nebraska ranks fourth, with searches relating to AI concerns increasing by 42.1%.

One of the most significant figures is the 44.7% increase in AI-related job postings. That was the second-highest growth rate among the five states at the top of the ranking, while 16.9% of businesses were using AI in 2026.

The figures underline an important distinction between AI employment growth and public confidence. A rise in AI-related vacancies can indicate stronger economic demand for technology skills, but it can also make workers more conscious of the changing requirements of the labour market.

For industries such as travel, hospitality and aviation, that distinction is particularly important because digital systems are increasingly being introduced alongside customer-facing and operational roles.

Why is Colorado among the states most concerned about AI?

Colorado ranks fifth, with AI concern searches rising by 41.6%.

The state has one of the strongest levels of business AI adoption among the top five, with 25% of businesses using artificial intelligence in 2026. AI-related job postings also increased by 36.2%, while venture capital investment in AI and machine learning reached approximately $8.98 billion between 2019 and 2025.

Colorado therefore illustrates the central issue identified by the study particularly clearly: higher levels of AI activity do not automatically translate into greater public confidence.

The state’s technology ecosystem has created significant investment and employment opportunities, but greater exposure to AI may also mean greater awareness of its potential consequences.

Which other US states are seeing AI concern rise?

The study’s wider top ten includes Louisiana, Missouri, Arkansas, Oregon and Michigan.

Louisiana recorded a 41.4% increase in AI concern searches, while Missouri registered a 40% rise. Arkansas followed with a 38.6% increase, despite recording the strongest growth in AI-related job postings among the ten states, at 73.8%.

Oregon recorded a 37.3% increase in AI concern searches, followed by Michigan at 36.9%. Business AI adoption ranged from 19.2% in Louisiana to 24.8% in Michigan.

These results demonstrate that rising concern is not confined to states with either the highest AI investment or the highest levels of business adoption.

What does the study say about jobs and AI?

The employment question is central to the findings.

A Hamilton Group job analyst cited research showing that 79% of Americans believe AI will reduce the number of US jobs over the next decade. The analyst argued that rising AI-related vacancies may not necessarily reassure workers because many advertisements increasingly list AI skills as prerequisites rather than offering training.

This creates a potentially important communications challenge for employers. Businesses introducing artificial intelligence may view new technology as a productivity tool, while employees may interpret the same development as a signal that their existing responsibilities could eventually be automated.

The difference between those perspectives could influence employee retention, recruitment and workplace morale.

What does rising AI anxiety mean for travel and tourism?

The findings are relevant to the travel industry because artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of travel planning, customer service, revenue management, marketing, aviation operations and hospitality.

Airlines, airports, hotels, destinations and travel agencies are increasingly using technology to personalise customer interactions, analyse demand and automate routine processes. AI can therefore improve efficiency while also creating questions around privacy, accuracy, employment and the role of human service.

Travel companies need to recognise that technological adoption is not simply an operational decision. It can also become a trust issue, particularly when customer information is processed by automated systems.

Clear explanations about how data is collected and used, alongside visible human oversight, can help businesses address those concerns.

Why does responsible AI adoption matter for tourism businesses?

The Hamilton Group findings suggest that AI adoption should be accompanied by workforce education and transparent communication.

For travel businesses, responsible implementation can involve explaining when customers are interacting with AI, establishing clear privacy safeguards and ensuring employees receive appropriate training before new systems are introduced. Human intervention also remains important when automated systems make recommendations or handle sensitive customer situations.

This approach can help businesses avoid presenting AI solely as a cost-cutting technology. Instead, it can be positioned as a tool that supports employees, improves service and enables businesses to respond more effectively to customer needs.

The wider lesson is that technological capability and public acceptance are separate measures. A market can adopt AI rapidly while consumers and workers remain uncertain about its consequences.

What does the research reveal about America’s changing relationship with AI?

The state-level figures show that AI anxiety is spreading alongside adoption rather than disappearing as businesses become more familiar with the technology.

Oklahoma’s 64.4% increase is particularly striking, but the increases recorded across Connecticut, Alabama, Nebraska, Colorado and the other leading states demonstrate that concern is a broader national issue.

The study does not establish that AI adoption directly causes public anxiety. Instead, it identifies a relationship between changing search behaviour, business adoption, employment trends and investment, providing a snapshot of how Americans are responding to the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence.

For travel and tourism, the message is straightforward. AI will increasingly influence how the industry operates, but successful adoption will depend not only on technology and investment. It will also depend on trust, skills, transparency and the ability of businesses to demonstrate that innovation can work alongside people rather than simply replace them.

Oklahoma’s position reflects a wider US debate over the consequences of rapidly expanding artificial intelligence. While businesses continue adopting AI and employers seek related skills, public concerns about jobs, privacy and safety are increasing. The findings underline the need for responsible adoption, stronger communication and greater workforce preparedness as technology evolves.