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Gallup AI Safety Poll
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High(4)High quality. Established institution or organization with editorial oversight and accountability.
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This Gallup poll provides empirical public opinion data useful for understanding societal support for AI safety regulation, relevant to policy discussions and governance advocacy in the AI safety community.
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Importance: 52/100news articleprimary source
Summary
A national Gallup survey finds that 80% of Americans prioritize AI safety regulations over rapid AI development, with strong bipartisan support for government oversight and independent testing of AI systems. The poll reflects broad public concern about AI risks and desire for structured governance frameworks. Results suggest significant public backing for safety-focused policy approaches.
Key Points
- •80% of Americans prefer AI safety rules take precedence over accelerating AI development.
- •Strong bipartisan support exists for government oversight of AI technologies.
- •Public favors independent testing and evaluation of AI systems before deployment.
- •Survey suggests public opinion could support legislative action on AI safety and governance.
- •Data and privacy security are top concerns among Americans regarding AI systems.
Review
The Gallup AI Safety Poll provides a comprehensive snapshot of American public sentiment towards artificial intelligence governance. The survey highlights a remarkable consensus across political affiliations that AI development should be tempered with robust safety considerations, with 80% of respondents preferring maintained safety rules even if it slows technological advancement. The research goes beyond simple approval, revealing nuanced perspectives on AI governance. Key findings include overwhelming support (97%) for AI safety regulations, preference for independent expert testing (72%), and a multilateral approach to AI development. The poll also exposes low public trust in AI, with only 2% fully trusting AI's capability to make fair decisions, suggesting a cautious public stance that could significantly influence future AI policy and development strategies.
Cited by 2 pages
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|---|---|---|
| Societal Response & Adaptation Model | Analysis | 57.0 |
| Failed and Stalled AI Proposals | Analysis | 63.0 |
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Americans Prioritize AI Safety and Data Security
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Economy
Americans Prioritize AI Safety and Data Security
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — As artificial intelligence continues to develop and grow in capability, Americans say the government should prioritize maintaining rules for AI safety and data security. According to a new nationally representative Gallup survey conducted in partnership with the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), 80% of U.S. adults believe the government should maintain rules for AI safety and data security, even if it means developing AI capabilities more slowly.
In contrast, 9% say the government should prioritize developing AI capabilities as quickly as possible, even if it means reducing rules for AI safety and data security. Eleven percent of Americans are unsure.
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Majority-level support for maintaining rules for AI safety and data security is seen across all key subgroups of U.S. adults, including by political affiliation, with 88% of Democrats and 79% of Republicans and independents favoring maintaining rules for safety and security. The poll did not explore which specific AI rules Americans support maintaining.
This preference is notable against the backdrop of global competitiveness in AI development. Most Americans (85%) agree that global competition for the most advanced AI is already underway, and 79% say it is important for the U.S. to have more advanced AI technology than other countries.
However, there are concerns about the United States’ current standing, with more Americans saying the U.S. is falling behind other countries (22%) than moving ahead (12%) in AI development. Another 34% say the U.S. is keeping pace, while 32% are unsure. Despite ambitions for U.S. AI leadership — and doubts about achieving it — Americans still prefer maintaining rules for safety and security, even if development slows. This view aligns with their generally low levels of trust in AI, which is correlated to low adoption and use.
Only 2% of U.S. adults “fully” trust AI’s capability to make fair and unbiased decisions, while 29% trust it “somewhat.” Six in 10 Americans distrust AI somewhat (40%) or fully (20%), although trust rises notably among AI users (46% trust it somewhat or fully).
Among those who favor maintaining rules for AI safety and data security, 30% trust AI either somewhat or fully, compared with 56% among those who favor developing AI c
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