Poll: 73% of Americans Worry AI Companies Fail to Prevent Societal Harm
A recent Reuters/Ipsos survey revealed that 73% of Americans believe AI companies are not doing enough to prevent serious societal harm, with 55% favoring a slowdown in AI development. Furthermore, 39% of respondents now view AI as having a negative impact on society, the highest percentage recorded since tracking began in March. The poll highlights growing public distrust in tech self-regulation and a strong desire for federal government intervention to set safety standards. It also indicates that a majority of Americans prioritize responsible development over maintaining international dominance in AI. Only 11% of surveyed Americans view AI technology positively, while 73% prioritize safety and responsibility over global technological supremacy (23%). Despite calls from political figures across the spectrum, legislative progress on federal AI regulation in the United States remains slow.
## BACKGROUND
Rapid advances in generative AI have raised widespread public concerns regarding job displacement, deepfakes, misinformation, and potential safety risks. While tech companies and policy experts debate AI governance, regulatory frameworks in the United States have struggled to keep pace with technological development. Public opinion polls like Reuters/Ipsos track evolving public sentiment as AI technologies become increasingly embedded in society.