Poll Results: Majority of Americans Believe AI Could Destroy Humanity
A new poll shows that a majority of US adults believe artificial intelligence carries the risk of destroying humanity, with nearly half supporting a suspension of its development.
A comprehensive poll conducted by Politico revealed that the majority of US adults are concerned that artificial intelligence technology could destroy humanity in the future. The research shows that a significant portion of participants supports halting development efforts to mitigate risks.
Proportions of Risk Perception
One-third of the poll participants stated that the risk of artificial intelligence destroying humanity is at a moderate level. Seventeen percent of participants stated that this risk is almost certain, while 20 percent expressed that it is at a severely high level.
Distribution by Political Preferences
The study also examined risk assessments according to the political views of the participants. While 70 percent of those who voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 elections described this risk at an average level, this rate was 60 percent among those who voted for Donald Trump.
Demand to Suspend Development
Forty-eight percent of the participants argued that artificial intelligence has reached a sufficiently good level and that its development should be suspended to reduce risks. Meanwhile, 31 percent expressed the view that work should continue on the grounds that it could provide significant benefits.
Approach to Executive Warnings
Approximately half of the participants stated that they sincerely believe the warnings from technology company executives that artificial intelligence could destroy humanity. Meanwhile, 26 percent noted that they think these statements are a marketing strategy.
Research Profile and Timeline
The poll was conducted online by the London-based Public First between September 13–15 with 2,064 US adults. The research was conducted during a period of intense debate alongside the rapid widespread adoption of artificial intelligence technology.
Industry Leaders and Political Responses
While figures like Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Elon Musk have called for a slowdown, the Donald Trump administration adopts an approach that encourages innovation. Trump argues that slowing down efforts would give an advantage to China.