A new Quinnipiac University poll reveals that most Americans want artificial intelligence development to slow down or stop entirely until safety can be verified. According to the survey, 47 percent of respondents want to reduce the pace of AI development, while 30 percent favor a complete stop until safety standards are confirmed. In contrast, only five percent of the surveyed public want faster development, highlighting a widespread public caution regarding rapid technological advancements in the sector.
The poll surveyed 1,202 US adults between September 24 and 27, yielding a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. The findings show that 86 percent of participants support independent safety standards for AI companies, even if those measures slow down overall progress. Furthermore, 73 percent expressed worry that AI could eventually threaten humanity's survival, and 74 percent reported having little or no trust in the leaders of AI companies. Chetan Jaiswal of Quinnipiac University noted that these combined results indicate the public desires safeguards that do not rely solely on the word of industry leaders.
This widespread public skepticism matters because it underscores a growing disconnect between the rapid commercial push by AI developers and consumer trust in safety measures.