The majority of Americans are harboring some apocalyptic fears about AI.
According to a new Politico poll that surveyed over 2,000 adults, about two thirds of the American public believes there’s now at least a “moderate” chance that advanced AI could destroy humanity.
Intriguingly, the prevalence of this view extends across political lines, with only slight variation. Americans who voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election were 70 percent likely to view AI as at a moderate or higher existential risk, compared to 60 percent to Trump voters.
There’s also a large contingent who’re quite fatalistic about the tech. A full 17 percent of Americans overall are “almost certain” that AI could wipe us all out, with an even split between Harris and Trump voters. Meanwhile, less than a quarter — 22 percent — said that AI posed a very small to no risk.
