The 2026
Californian
AI Compass

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What a year of AI bought in California

We surveyed 3,164 Californians in the closing weeks of the 2026 legislative session, a year after our first study. More people are using these tools than ever: 79% have now used one, and 58% use one at least weekly.

Yet approval fell anyway. Californians are now twice as likely to feel concerned about where AI is heading as excited, by 58% to 29%. Running the study twice means we can show you which findings held and which moved.

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Full Report

The complete 2026 report: what a year of adoption changed, how seven policy proposals fared against their opponents’ best arguments, and where the five mindsets moved.

Read the report

Slide Deck

Presentation-ready slides from the 2026 research, built for briefing a room that has not read the report.

View the slides

Mindset Explorer

Mindset by mindset, dig into the 2026 data yourself: who they are, what they think about AI, and what they want done about it.

Explore the mindsets

Tailored Walkthrough

Book a guided briefing tailored to your sector, audience, or strategic priorities.

Request a walkthrough

Looking for last year’s research? Explore the 2025 Californian AI Compass.

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