Concerns About AI and Humanity: A New Poll

A recent survey indicates that many Americans are troubled by the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) for humanity’s future. The poll, conducted by an independent firm called Public First, reveals that over half of the participants fear that AI could lead to humanity’s extinction, and surprisingly, opinions across political lines show more common ground than one might expect.

This poll was carried out from September 13 to September 15, coinciding with a significant uptick in discussions about AI’s potential dangers, notably spurred by warnings from former and current employees of Anthropic about the existential risks posed by advanced AI systems.

The level of perceived risk, especially a “moderate” risk, emerged as a consensus among both Republicans and Democrats in the survey.

In this context, Dario Amodei, the CEO of Anthropic, advocated in a blog post for a slowdown in AI development to prioritize safety, a stance that has garnered mixed opinions but heightened the dialogue about AI’s potential threats.

What do Americans actually believe about AI?

In total, 2,064 U.S. adults were surveyed online, and their input was combined with their voting preferences for the 2024 presidential election to gauge their political affiliations. The results were revealing:

• 17% of respondents (equally from both political sides) believe AI will almost certainly destroy humanity.
• 20% (17% from the right, 26% from the left) feel that AI poses a significant risk to humanity.
• 26% (27% right, 29% left) think AI presents a moderate risk to humanity.

What stands out in these findings is the agreement between the two major political parties—both Republicans and Democrats show a shared anxiety about AI’s potential to threaten civilization.

While public sentiment does not determine the truth of these fears, it does highlight a growing unease as AI technologies continue to progress.

To address such concerns, prominent figures in the tech world, including Dario Amodei, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, and Elon Musk, are united in calling for a measured approach to AI’s advancement. Interestingly, public opinion seems to align with this perspective.

• 48% of participants (44% right, 58% left) think a pause in AI development is needed to manage risks.
• 31% (40% from the right, 28% from the left) feel that AI development should continue without interruption.
• 22% were unsure (16% right, 13% left).

There’s significant agreement on the necessity of a development pause, although this belief is more pronounced among left-leaning respondents, where support for a moratorium stands at 58% compared to 44% on the right.

This contrasting stance on AI policies might be influenced by recent legislative proposals, like Bernie Sanders’ suggestion to ban the development of artificial superintelligence, which was opposed by President Trump, who emphasizes the U.S. leading the AI charge.

While this survey sheds light on the mindset of Americans regarding AI’s trajectory, it raises further questions. For example, how do different age groups, genders, or economic classes view these concerns? These factors could play a significant role in shaping personal perspectives, yet specific details remain unclear.

Attempts to reach Politico for more information on the demographics of the poll’s respondents were unsuccessful by the time of reporting.