Will AI Harm Humans? Poll finds Americans want to slow development but not stop
Americans are optimistic about scientific advances in AI, but concerned that AI may take jobs.
September 18, 2026 / 5:59 PM EDT / CBS News
Like any powerful new technology, Americans understand that AI could be used for good or bad. There is optimism on some fronts — but pessimism outweighs it today.
Most Americans do worry AI models will act on their own to harm people, and even more that models will be used by people to harm others.
Yet Americans do not want to stop AI altogether, because most do think the U.S. needs to develop AI to be competitive, and must do so faster than China. They also think that it can lead to medical and scientific breakthroughs.
So it's a matter of containing and managing it.
But who should do this? Both companies and government together.