Will AI Harm Humans? CBS News poll finds Americans want to slow development but not stop it

Updated on: September 18, 2026 / 6:05 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.

People tend not to think AI companies will manage it responsibly by themselves, which leads to a wider call for government restrictions.

One difference between the more optimistic and pessimistic people has to do with perceived economic impact: Those who think AI is poised to take jobs are more pessimistic on other aspects about it. Views don't closely follow age or partisanship.

Companies and the government share responsibility.

And more see a government…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/moneywatch/