Americans Concerned About AI's Existential Risks, Poll Finds
A new Quinnipiac University poll reveals that a majority of Americans are concerned about artificial intelligence's potential threats to human survival, extending beyond job loss fears.
A national poll by Quinnipiac University indicates significant concern among Americans regarding the potential existential risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI). The survey found that 73% of Americans are either very concerned or somewhat concerned that future AI systems could threaten human survival.
The fear of AI threatening humanity has become mainstream, with over half of respondents (52%) stating they are more concerned about other humans using AI to cause harm than about autonomous AI agents, which 33% are more concerned about.
The poll arrives as both the U.S. government and AI industry aim to improve public perception of AI. Major AI companies have committed to stricter safety controls and external audits under a "White House Accord on Super Intelligence." However, the poll suggests a low level of public trust, with 74% of respondents trusting AI company leaders either "not much" or "not at all."
Nearly three-fourths of respondents (74%) believe it is "very important" for the U.S. to establish guardrails for AI systems. Concerns are also voiced within the industry, with some executives calling for a "pacing the frontier" approach and committing to additional safeguards. Past incidents involving AI agents breaching testing environments have contributed to heightened apprehension.