Full Breakdown
Americans Say AI Is Developing Too Fast, Poll Finds
By Drooid · · How we work
Poll Shows Majority Concern Over AI Speed
A new Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll of 2,140 U.S. adults reveals bipartisan unease about the rapid pace of artificial-intelligence development. Sixty-four percent say AI is moving “too fast,” while only eight percent think it is “too slow.” Respondents also rank keeping AI under human control and protecting workers as top government priorities.
Key Findings and Numbers
- Development speed: 64% “too fast,” 27% “about right,” 8% “too slow.” (AP-NORC poll)
- Government priorities: About 80% say it is “extremely” or “very” important for the government to ensure AI remains under human control and to protect the workforce.
- Economic and environmental concerns: Roughly half of adults view minimizing environmental harm and promoting technological innovation as important; slightly fewer emphasize competing with China.
- Political trust: 40% do not trust either the Democratic or Republican Party on AI issues; 20% trust both equally. Only about half of Democrats and Republicans believe their own party is better equipped to handle AI, and roughly 30% say neither party is.
- President’s standing: 67% disapprove of President Donald Trump’s handling of AI, reflecting his opposition to slowing AI development over concerns about China’s advantage. (AP-NORC poll)
Official Responses
Company leaders developing frontier AI models have publicly urged a regulatory slowdown so that policy can keep pace with technology. President Donald Trump has pushed back against such measures, arguing that restrictions could let China gain a strategic edge. Both positions are presented as part of the broader public debate captured by the poll.
Verbatim Quotes
- “There is no handling of the issue except for we’re just going to allow these companies to do whatever they want, and we’re not going to regulate them,” — Stephanie Stewart, junior-high science teacher, Sunset, Utah
- “I can just see a train of self-driving trucks 24/7, just running up and down I-35, loading and unloading. I can just see that happening,” — Ron Theusch, truck driver, Alden, Minnesota
- “There was a movie called ‘Terminator,’ where the robots came back and killed everybody,” — Ron Theusch
- “I think I have all the normal concerns, right? I think it’s wonderful for certain applications, but I also feel like it will be overused and can create a lack of personal connections. It can make people lazy because information is just given to them without really having to research things on their own,” — Kelly Opp, Republican, Albuquerque, New Mexico
The poll, conducted in late September, carries a margin of sampling error of ±2.9 percentage points.