73% of Americans Say AI Companies Are Not Doing Enough on Safety

A large majority of Americans believe artificial intelligence companies need to do more to prevent potentially serious harm from increasingly powerful AI systems, according to a new national survey.

The poll found that 73% of respondents were concerned that AI companies had not implemented enough safeguards to protect society from serious risks. The findings also indicate declining public confidence in the technology’s impact and limited support for allowing AI companies to regulate themselves without stronger government involvement.

Public Concern About AI Is Rising

The four-day survey found that 73% of participants believed AI companies had not gone far enough in establishing protections against serious societal harm.

At the same time, 39% said artificial intelligence was having a negative impact on society, up from 36% in the previous month. That represented the highest level recorded in the survey series.

Only 11% viewed AI’s impact as positive, while the remaining respondents were either uncertain or did not provide an answer.

The results reflect growing public debate as AI systems become more capable and increasingly integrated into workplaces, businesses and everyday services.

Americans Show Limited Confidence in Industry Self-Regulation

The survey also indicated that many Americans want a stronger government role in establishing AI safety requirements.

Most respondents supported a significant role for federal authorities in setting standards for AI safety, reflecting concerns about whether technology companies can effectively oversee their own development and risk-management practices.

The issue has become a major part of the broader discussion surrounding artificial intelligence, particularly as companies deploy increasingly capable models and autonomous systems.

Majority Support Slowing AI Development

The poll found that 55% of respondents considered slowing AI development to be a good thing.

By comparison, 13% said slowing development would be negative, while the remaining participants were unsure or did not answer.

The survey also found that approximately 69% had followed reports about major AI companies calling for a slowdown in development amid concerns about safety and oversight.

The findings highlight an ongoing debate over whether AI development is advancing faster than the safeguards designed to manage its potential risks.

Cybersecurity and Privacy Remain Major Concerns

Public concern about AI is not limited to long-term questions about the technology. Cybersecurity, privacy and potential misuse are also contributing to the debate.

The survey report pointed to incidents involving increasingly autonomous AI agents as an example of the challenges facing developers.

One concern is that AI systems capable of interacting with external tools, networks and services could potentially behave in unexpected ways or be misused by attackers.

At the same time, supporters of AI point to potential benefits including increased productivity, scientific research, healthcare applications and improvements across financial and industrial sectors.

AI Researchers Also Raise Safety Concerns

Warnings from people working within the AI research community have added to the public discussion.

Some researchers have expressed concerns about the consequences of increasingly capable AI systems and questioned whether existing safety measures will be sufficient as models become more autonomous and powerful.

These concerns have contributed to a broader debate about the pace of AI development and the responsibility of companies building advanced systems.

However, the potential economic and scientific benefits of AI continue to drive significant investment and research, making the balance between innovation and safety an ongoing issue.

Safety Takes Priority Over Global AI Competition for Many Americans

The survey also examined whether Americans place greater importance on developing AI safely or maintaining U.S. leadership in global AI competition.

According to the findings, 73% said safe and responsible AI development was more important, while 23% placed greater importance on ensuring the United States remains ahead of other countries in AI development.

The result suggests that, among those surveyed, concerns about safety outweighed concerns about maintaining an international technological advantage.

Survey Details

The poll was conducted online among 1,277 U.S. adults.

It reported a margin of error of approximately three percentage points in either direction.

Because the survey represents a snapshot of public opinion at a particular point in time, attitudes toward AI may change as new technologies, regulations and high-profile incidents emerge.

Public Debate Over AI Is Evolving

The survey points to a growing tension between rapid advances in artificial intelligence and public expectations for stronger safeguards.

AI systems are increasingly being used for work, research, communication and decision-making, while concerns about cybersecurity, privacy, misuse and autonomous behavior continue to develop.

The findings suggest that many Americans want technological progress to continue while placing greater emphasis on safety and accountability.

As AI capabilities expand, the debate is likely to focus increasingly on whether regulatory frameworks and industry safeguards can keep pace with the technology.