61% of Americans Say AI Threatens Humanity as Enthusiasts Push Ahead

Almost two-thirds of Americans say artificial intelligence (AI) threatens humanity’s future. Meanwhile, enthusiasts at tech companies like Google and Microsoft can’t rush out AI fast enough. If you’d like a prediction on how this could go, try the science fiction/dystopia section at your local library.

A newly published Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 61% of Americans are worried that AI threatens the future of human civilization. Only 22% disagreed with that view, while 17% were unsure. More than two-thirds of Americans are concerned about AI’s negative effects. As Americans become increasingly aware of how tech can be weaponized by the government and Big Tech companies, the fear is natural.

Unfortunately, an AI arms race has begun.