HackerNoon Polls

HackerNoon Technology Polls

HackerNoon readers are younger, wealthier and more educated than the internet's average.
These polls represent where forward thinking technologists see the industry headed.

The Smart Home AI Showdown. Which AI-powered smart home system would you prefer?

The battle for the AI-powered smart home has intensified with recent announcements from Google and Amazon. Both companies are rolling out next-generation, conversational AI assistants to create a more intelligent and proactive home environment. Which of these new smart home ecosystems are you more excited about?

Poll Results

Google Gemini for Home
54%
Amazon Alexa+
46%
Which battle will define the next decade of tech?

AI is now the axis of the tech industry. The question is: which force will shape its future the most?

160 Voters

Poll Results

Who controls compute power (Nvidia, chipmakers, hyperscale data centers)
31%
Who controls trust & culture (open-source vs. closed AI, safety, ethics)
28%
Who controls consumer entry points (AI in phones, chat apps, social platforms)
26%
Who controls rules of the game (EU DMA, US regulation, global policy)
16%
Will Silicon Valley’s Big Bet on RL Environments Pay Off?

Silicon Valley is increasingly investing in RL environments —simulated “training grounds” where AI agents can perform multi-step tasks rather than just learning from static datasets. These environments allow agents to use tools, interact with software, and adapt to unexpected behaviors. But there are trade-offs: cost, complexity, risk of “reward hacking,” and questions about whether scaling will be feasible.

161 Voters

Poll Results

No — this is another overhyped Valley experiment destined to fizzle.
27%
Absolutely
26%
Partially — they’ll drive breakthroughs in robotics and gaming, but not everywhere.
25%
Not yet — the tech is promising but too immature to deliver at scale.
22%
What’s the most common thing you do with a VPN?

VPNs aren’t just about privacy—they’ve become everyday tools for streaming, security, and bypassing restrictions. From unlocking shows abroad to keeping hackers away, people use them in different ways. We’re curious: what’s YOUR most common VPN habit?

143 Voters

Poll Results

Download safely
34%
Cyber safety/ Just keep it on for peace of mind
28%
Stream shows from other countries
23%
Bypass school/work restrictions
15%
If you could only use one programming language for the rest of your life, which would it be?

If, for some reason, you could only use one programming language for the rest of your life, which would you choose?

441 Voters

Poll Results

Python
37%
Javascript
25%
Other (Let us know in the comments below!)
16%
Go
11%
C++
10%
When an AI System Makes a Harmful Error, Who Should Be Held MOST Accountable?

When AI systems cause harm, determining who is responsible is a complex legal and ethical challenge. A recent survey found a majority of the public believes AI companies should be held primarily accountable for potential harms, more so than users or the government.

258 Voters

Poll Results

The company that developed and sold the AI
33%
The organization or individual who used the AI
21%
Accountability is impossible to assign to a single group
16%
The government for failing to implement proper laws
11%
The specific engineers who wrote the code
10%
Other - Comment Below Your Thoughts!
9%
Are you Team Bluesky or Mississippi Age Assurance Law?

Bluesky has blocked access in Mississippi after the state enacted HB1126, the Age Assurance Law, which requires online platforms to verify users’ ages with government IDs or third-party checks. The company argues that such laws undermine privacy, chill free expression, and clash with its decentralized model, where user data isn’t meant to be funneled through centralized ID checks. Lawmakers, however, claim the rules are essential to keep minors safe online. Where do you stand?

187 Voters

Poll Results

Team Bluesky – Privacy and decentralization come first.
40%
Team Mississippi Law – Child safety outweighs privacy concerns.
25%
On the Fence – Both parties make strong points.
20%
Need More Context – Still undecided on this one.
16%
Should companies have to label AI-generated content?

As AI-generated text, images, and video flood the internet, a new debate is emerging: should companies be required to clearly label what’s human-made and what’s machine-made? Proponents say transparency is essential to combat misinformation and preserve trust. Critics argue labeling could slow innovation or be impossible to enforce. Where do you stand?

299 Voters

Poll Results

Yes — always. Transparency should be mandatory, no exceptions.
57%
Yes — but only for sensitive areas like news, politics, or education.
20%
No — let audiences decide for themselves.
9%
No — labeling would stifle innovation and creativity.
7%
Not sure — I need more information before deciding.
7%
Which Generative AI tool do you use the most?

From brainstorming ideas to automating tasks, Generative AI tools are becoming part of our daily workflow. We’re curious—what’s your go-to AI companion?

285 Voters

Poll Results

ChatGPT
44%
Grok
12%
Depends on the task
12%
Microsoft Copilot
11%
Others
11%
Gemini
10%
Do You Use AI Coding Assistants?

When you're writing code, do you rely on AI coding assistants (GitHub CoPilot, ChatGPT, etc.)?

396 Voters

Poll Results

Yes I do
65%
No I don't
15%
No, but I'm open to the idea
14%
No, I never will
6%