Will AI harm humans? CBS News poll finds Americans want to slow development but not stop it
Updated on: September 18, 2026 / 6:13 PM EDT / CBS News
TL;DR
- Americans understand AI can be used for good or bad, with current pessimism outweighing optimism.
- There is significant worry that AI models will harm people or be used by people to harm others.
- Most Americans believe the U.S. needs to develop AI to compete with China and think it can lead to breakthroughs.
- Americans believe AI development should be contained and managed, with both companies and government involved.
- There is a tendency to believe AI companies will not manage AI responsibly on their own, leading to calls for government restrictions.
- Perceived economic impact, particularly job loss, correlates with pessimism about AI.
- Few Americans think AI should be stopped completely; rather, they suggest slowing down development.
- Concerns about AI taking jobs remain high, especially among those who favor government restrictions.
- More workers believe AI will make their jobs easier, though they also think it will reduce the overall number of jobs.