Key facts
- 73% of Americans believe AI companies are not doing enough to prevent serious harm from the technology.
- 39% of Americans think AI is having a negative impact on society, the highest share since March.
- 11% of Americans believe AI is a positive thing for society.
- Most Americans believe federal officials should play a major role in setting AI safety standards.
- 69% of Americans followed news of major AI companies calling for a slowdown in development and greater oversight.
- 55% of Americans think slowing AI development would be a good thing.
Three-quarters of Americans, or 73%, are concerned that artificial intelligence companies are not adequately preventing the technology from causing serious harm to society, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll. The poll, which concluded on Sunday, revealed that 39% of respondents believe AI is negatively impacting society, an increase from 36% the previous month and the highest figure since the question was first asked in March. Only 11% viewed AI as a positive development.
Many Americans lack confidence in AI companies' self-regulation capabilities, with a majority supporting a significant role for federal officials in establishing safety standards. While figures like Senator Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon have advocated for federal intervention, concrete action has been limited. President Donald Trump supports rapid AI development, and the Republican-led House of Representatives is not scheduled to return until November, diminishing the prospects for swift legislative action.
The poll also indicated that 69% of respondents were aware of major AI companies calling for a slowdown in AI development and increased oversight. Fifty-five percent of those surveyed felt that slowing AI development would be beneficial, contrasting with 13% who believed it would be detrimental. The poll surveyed 1,277 US adults online and has a margin of error of 3 percentage points.