Poll shows most Americans want AI development slowed or paused
What happened
On 6 October 2026, The Decoder reported on a Quinnipiac University poll of American attitudes towards AI. The survey interviewed 1,202 US adults between 24 and 27 September, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. The results showed that 47% of respondents want AI development slowed, 30% want it stopped entirely until safety is verified, and only 5% want it accelerated. In addition, 86% support independent safety standards for AI companies currently under discussion, even if this slows progress; 73% worry that AI will eventually threaten human survival; and 74% have little or no trust in AI company leaders.
Written by AI from the reports · updated 11 d ago
Timeline
Follow the reports to see the event from each side.
- The DecoderMost Americans want AI development to slow down or stop entirely, new poll finds
According to a Quinnipiac University poll, 77 percent of Americans want to slow down or stop AI development until its safety has been verified. 86 percent support independent safety standards, and 74 percent have little or no trust in AI company leaders.