AI use surges among policymakers
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AI is no longer just a research tool in Washington, D.C. — it's starting to shape how policymakers form opinions, according to Penta Group data shared exclusively with Axios.
Why it matters: Policymakers are the latest to lean on AI for guidance, signaling its growing role in shaping decisions across markets, consumer behavior and now public policy.
By the numbers: Penta Group surveyed 2,060 U.S. federal policymakers and senior staff across Congress, the administration and federal agencies, and found that 27% say AI informs their perspective on a topic — up from 17% in 2025 — putting AI on par with traditional sources like experts and web searches.
- Six in 10 policymakers say they use AI at least once a day and are most likely to turn to it for background research on policies and issues (42%), writing and editing statements, memos, and reports (40%), and brainstorming (34%).
- Meanwhile, roughly 3 in 10 say they use AI to help gather background information.
The intrigue: Republican policymakers are about 1.2 times more likely than Democratic policymakers to use AI daily — 69% compared to 57%.
- Republicans are also more likely to find AI helpful in shaping their perspectives (30% vs. 23% for Democrats).
- Meanwhile, Democrats are more than twice as likely to avoid AI entirely. 13% say they don't use it in their daily work, compared with 5% of Republicans.
What to watch: The partisan gap in AI use could start to shape how lawmakers understand — and ultimately regulate — the technology, with implications for issues such as governance and competition policy.
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