Will AI harm humans? CBS News poll finds Americans want to slow development but not stop it, tell me about this news in (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/will-a-i-harm-humans-opinion-poll/)

The CBS News/YouGov poll highlights the complex, cautious view Americans hold toward artificial intelligence: while public pessimism and anxiety currently outweigh optimism, the public overwhelmingly prefers slowing down development and establishing guardrails rather than halting AI completely.

Key findings from the poll include:

• Fear of Harm: A majority of Americans worry that AI models could act autonomously to cause harm, and an even larger share expresses concern that bad actors will deliberately use AI systems to harm others. Overall, Americans are more inclined to believe AI will create more problems than it solves.

• Why Not Stop It: Despite widespread concerns, very few Americans advocate shutting down AI development entirely. Two major reasons drive this perspective:

  1. Global Competitiveness: Most believe the United States must actively develop AI to remain competitive globally and stay ahead of rivals like China.

  2. Potential Benefits: People remain optimistic about AI’s potential to accelerate scientific discoveries, improve medical treatments, and assist with everyday tasks.

• Regulation and Responsibility: The public does not trust AI companies to self-regulate or manage the technology responsibly on their own. Instead, respondents overwhelmingly favor shared oversight, with many calling for direct government restrictionsrather than government promotionto keep the technology contained and secure.

• Economic and Job Impact: Economic anxiety is a primary driver of pessimism. There remains widespread concern that AI will eliminate jobs and shrink the overall workforce, even though many workers simultaneously acknowledge that AI tools could make individual tasks easier to perform. Those most worried about job loss are also the most vocal supporters of stricter government regulations.

• Demographics and Politics: Notably, attitudes toward AI do not strictly align with standard partisan affiliations or age groups; instead, personal outlook on economic stability and perceived threat to livelihoods play the biggest role in shaping public opinion.